Leukotrienes (LTs) are a group of acute inflammatory mediators derived from arachidonic acid in leukocytes. The majority of these metabolites are formed through the 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) pathway. 14,15-LTE4 is a metabolite of 14,15-LTC4 and 14,15-LTD4, an alternate class of LTs synthesized by a pathway involving the dual actions of 15- and 12-LOs on arachidonic acid via 15-HpETE and 14,15-LTA4 intermediates. These metabolites are classified as eoxins because they are formed mostly by eosinophils. Mast cells and nasal polyps can synthesize 14,15-LTC4 as well, however metabolism to 14,15-LTE4 in these cells and tissue has not been documented. 14,15-LTE4 increases vascular permeability of human endothelial cell monolayers with about 10-fold less potency than LTC4, but approximately 100-fold greater potency than histamine.
Slow isomerization of the C-11 double bond of LTE4 leads to the formation of 11-trans LTE4. 11-trans LTE4 is equipotent to LTE4 in contracting guinea pig ileum.
Produced by neutrophils, macrophages, mast cells, and by transcellular metabolism in platelets, leukotriene C4 (LTC4) is the parent cysteinyl leukotriene formed by the LTC4 synthase-catalyzed conjugation of glutathione to LTA4. It is one of the constituents of slow-reacting substance of anaphylaxis (SRS-A) and exhibits potent smooth muscle contracting activity. LTC4, however, is rapidly metabolized to LTD4 and LTE4, which makes the characterization of LTC4 pharmacology difficult. N-methyl Leukotriene C4 (N-methyl LTC4) is a synthetic analog of LTC4 that is not readily metabolized to LTD4 and LTE4.It acts as a potent and selective CysLT2 receptor agonist exhibiting EC50 values of 122 and > 2,000 nM at the human CysLT2 and CysLT1 receptors, respectively. It has essentially the same potency as LTC4 at both the human and murine receptors CysLT2 receptors. N-methyl LTC4 is potent and active in vivo, causing vascular leak in mice overexpressing the human CysLT2 receptor but not in CysLT2 receptor knockout mice.
LTF4 is a cysteinyl-leukotriene produced in vitro, but not reported to date in vivo. It is formed by the incubation of LTE4 with γ-glutamyl transpeptidase and glutathione. LTF4 is a weak agonist in its ability to contract vascular smooth muscle. [1] The rank order of potency of the cysteinyl-leukotrienes to contract vascular smooth muscle is LTD4 > LTC4 > LTE4 >> LTF4. [1] [2]