Eicosanoid

Older versions of the lUPAC rules called the unbranched carboxylic acid with 20 car bon atoms e/cosano/c aad Consequently icosanoids are often referred to as eicosanoids... 

Allergic Seasonal or Perennial Rhinoconjunctivitis. Histamine can cause all pathologic features of allergic rhinitis (35—37), with the exception of late-phase inflammatory reactions. Pmritus is caused by stimulation of receptors on sensory nerve endings prostaglandins (qv) may also contribute. Sneering, like pmritus, is an H -mediated neural reflex and can also be mediated by eicosanoids. Mucosal edema, which manifests as nasal... 

CP 55940 (79) and nabilone (80) are synthetic ligands for the cannabiaoid receptor. However, the identification of the eicosanoid, anandamide (81), as an endogenous cannabimimetic has provided an important tool to study cannabiaoid receptor function. 

Detailed accounts of the biosynthesis of the prostanoids have been pubUshed (14—17). Under normal circumstances arachidonic acid (AA) is the most abundant C-20 fatty acid m vivo (18—21) which accounts for the predominance of the prostanoids containing two double bonds eg, PGE2 (see Fig. 1). Prostanoids of the one and three series are biosynthesized from dihomo-S-linolenic and eicosapentaenoic acids, respectively. Concentrations ia human tissue of the one-series precursor, dihomo-S-linolenic acid, are about one-fourth those of AA (22) and the presence of PGE has been noted ia a variety of tissues (23). The biosynthesis of the two-series prostaglandins from AA is shown ia Eigure 1. These reactions make up a portion of what is known as the arachidonic acid cascade. Other Hpid products of the cascade iaclude the leukotrienes, lipoxins, and the hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids (HETEs). Collectively, these substances are termed eicosanoids. 

Leukotrienes. Leukotrienes, products of the Hpoxygenase pathway, are generally less radioprotective than the PGs, with the exception of LTC4, which is among the most potent of the naturally occurring eicosanoids (214). LTC radioprotects V79 hamster cells in vitro and mouse CEU-S and... 

Among vertebrate species, the neuro-endocrine-immime system is responsible for many complex, inter-related physiological processes including neuronal, homeostatic, reproductive and immune functions. There are four main types of hormone polypeptides, eicosanoids, steroids and thyroid hormones. Reflecting the inter-dependency of the neiiro-endocrine and immune systems, hormones, neuropeptides and other neiirotransmitters are known to be produced by some immune cells and play a role in the regulation of the immune system, while endocrine and nervous tissues express receptors for many substances produced by the immune system. The major focus of interest in endocrine disruption has... 

The organization of Part Two is according to structural type. The first section, Chapter Seven, is concerned with the synthesis of macrocyclic compounds. Syntheses of a number of heterocyclic target structures appear in Chapter Eight. Sesquiterpenoids and polycyclic higher isoprenoids are dealt with in Chapters Nine and Ten, respectively. The remainder of Part Two describes syntheses of prostanoids (Chapter Eleven) and biologically active acyclic polyenes including leukotrienes and other eicosanoids (Chapter Twelve). 

A similar result was obtained with substrates having the full eicosanoid side chain and a 12,13(Z)-double bond regardless of whether the 14,15-double bond is or Z (Ref. 3). 

Hybridalactone, a novel marine derived eicosanoid from Laurencia hybrida, appears to be biosynthesized by a unique pathway from eicosapentaenoic acid. The synthesis of hybridalactone was carried out enantiospecifically from (+)-bicyclo[3.2.0]hept-4-ene-l-one so as to provide proof of stereochemistry (Ref. 4). 

The first step in the biosynthesis of eicosanoids from arachidonic acid is generally a lipoxygenation reaction. The resulting hydroperoxides (HPETE s) can undergo reduction to the corresponding alcohols (HETE s). Preparative routes to the 5-, 11-, and 15-HETE s and HPETE s have been developed as oudine below. 

Some fatty acids are not synthesized by mammals and yet are necessary for normal growth and life. These essential fatty aeids include llnoleic and y-linolenic acids. These must be obtained by mammals in their diet (specifically from plant sources). Arachidonic acid, which is not found in plants, can only be synthesized by mammals from linoleic acid. At least one function of the essential fatty acids is to serve as a precursor for the synthesis of eicosanoids, such as... 

We turn now to the biosynthesis of lipid structures. We begin with a discussion of the biosynthesis of fatty acids, stressing the basic pathways, additional means of elongation, mechanisms for the introduction of double bonds, and regulation of fatty acid synthesis. Sections then follow on the biosynthesis of glyc-erophospholipids, sphingolipids, eicosanoids, and cholesterol. The transport of lipids through the body in lipoprotein complexes is described, and the chapter closes with discussions of the biosynthesis of bile salts and steroid hormones. 

Eicosanoids, so named because they are all derived from 20-carbon fatty acids, are ubiquitous breakdown products of phospholipids. In response to appropriate stimuli, cells activate the breakdown of selected phospholipids (Figure 25.27). Phospholipase Ag (Chapter 8) selectively cleaves fatty acids from the C-2 position of phospholipids. Often these are unsaturated fatty acids, among which is arachidonic acid. Arachidonic acid may also be released from phospholipids by the combined actions of phospholipase C (which yields diacyl-glycerols) and diacylglycerol lipase (which releases fatty acids). 

A Variety of Stimuli Trigger Arachidonate Release and Eicosanoid Synthesis... 

The release of arachidonate and the synthesis or interconversion of eicosanoids can be initiated by a variety of stimuli, including histamine, hormones such as epinephrine and bradykinin, proteases such as thrombin, and even serum albumin. An important mechanism of arachidonate release and eicosanoid syn-... 

Compounds 111 having structural features of the dual cyclooxygenase (COX)/5-lipooxygenase (5-LO) inhibitor tepoxalin and the 5-LO inhibitor ABT-761 were prepared. Many of these hybrid compounds are potent COX and 5-LO inhibitors two compounds (111, r =McO, R = R" = R = H, R = NH2, R = Me and r = MeO, R = R = Me, R" = R = H, R = Cl) inhibited eicosanoid biosynthesis in an ex vivo assay, but neither improved on the main deficiency of tepoxalin, duration of 5-LO inhibitory activity (99BMCL979). Compounds 111 inhibit the production of arachidonic acid products associated with 5-lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase and are useful in the treatment of inflammatory disorders (99USP5925769). 

Epoxide ring-opening witli transfer of an sp carbon moiety was applied in a sbori syntliesis [44] of eicosanoid 56 [45], relevant in marine prostanoid biosyn-tliesis (Scheme 9.13). Honioallyl alcohol 55 was obtained in good yield from 54 by use of a cyano-G dman alketiylciiprate [46]. 

Lipids are naturally occurring organic molecules that have limited solubility in water and can be isolated from organisms by extraction with nonpolar organic solvents. Fats, oils, waxes, many vitamins and hormones, and most nonprotein cell-meznbrane components are examples. Note that this definition differs from the sort used for carbohydrates and proteins in that lipids are defined by a physical property (solubility) rather than by structure. Of the many kinds of lipids, we ll be concerned in this chapter only with a few triacvlglycerols, eicosanoids, terpenoids, and steroids. 

Prostaglandins, together with related compounds called thromboxanes and leukotrienes, make up a class of compounds called eicosanoids because they are derived biologically7 from 5,8,11,14-eicosatetraenoic acid, or arachidonic... 

Figure 27.3 Structures of some representative eicosanoids. All are derived biologically from arachidonic acid.

---