An antitumorigenic role for murine 8S-lipoxygenase in skin carcinogenesis.

The levels of 8S-lipoxygenase (8S-LOX) expression and of its arachidonic acid metabolite, 8-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (8-HETE), are highly elevated in the early stages of mouse skin carcinogenesis. On the other hand, several reports showing that 8-HETE is also closely associated with keratinocyte differentiation raise a question concerning the role of 8S-LOX/8-HETE in skin carcinogenesis. To address that question, here we conducted a series of gain-of-function studies. Skin targeted loricrin 8S-LOX/C57BL/6J transgenic mice showed a more differentiated epidermal phenotype as well as a 64% reduced papilloma development in a two-stage skin carcinogenesis protocol. Forced expression of 8S-LOX in MT1/2 cells, a murine papilloma cell line, also caused a more differentiated appearance as well as keratin 1 expression. Overexpression of 8S-LOX in CH72 cells, a murine carcinoma cell line, inhibited cell proliferation by 30% in vitro and by 86% in in vivo xenografts. Exogenous addition of 5 muM 8-HETE to CH72 cells caused cell cycle arrest at the G1 phase. Finally, immunohistochemical analyses showed 8S-LOX protein expression was strictly confined to the differentiated compartment of mouse skin and throughout tumorigenesis. Collectively, these data suggest that 8S-LOX plays a role as a prodifferentiating, antitumorigenic, and tumor suppressing gene in mouse skin carcinogenesis.

Upregulation of 8-lipoxygenase in the dermatitis of IkappaB-alpha-deficient mice.

Neonatal mice deficient in IkappaB-alpha, an inhibitor of the ubiquitous transcription factor NF-kappaB, develop severe and widespread dermatitis shortly after birth. In humans, inflammatory skin disorders such as psoriasis are associated with accumulation in the skin of the unusual arachidonic acid metabolite 12R-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (12R-HETE), a product of the enzyme 12R-lipoxygenase. To examine the etiology of the murine IkappaB-alpha-deficient skin phenotype, we investigated the expression of lipoxygenases and the metabolism of exogenous arachidonic acid in the skin. In the IkappaB-alpha-deficient animals, the major lipoxygenase metabolite was 8S-HETE, formed together with a minor amount of 12S-HETE; 12R-HETE synthesis was undetectable. Skin from the wild-type littermates formed 12S-HETE as the almost exclusive lipoxygenase metabolite. Upregulation of 8S-lipoxygenase (8-LOX) in IkappaB-alpha-deficient mice was confirmed at the transcriptional and translational level using ribonuclease protection assay and western analysis. In immunohistochemical studies, increased expression of 8-LOX was detected in the stratum granulosum of the epidermis. In the stratum granulosum, 8-LOX may be involved in the terminal differentiation of keratinocytes. Although mouse 8S-lipoxygenase and human 12R-lipoxygenase are not ortholog genes, we speculate that in mouse and humans the two different enzymes may fulfill equivalent functions in the progression of inflammatory dermatoses.

8S-lipoxygenase products activate peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha and induce differentiation in murine keratinocytes.

To determine the function and mechanism of action of the 8S-lipoxygenase (8-LOX) product of arachidonic acid, 8S-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (8S-HETE), which is normally synthesized only after irritation of the epidermis, transgenic mice with 8-LOX targeted to keratinocytes through the use of a loricrin promoter were generated. Histological analyses showed that the skin, tongue, and stomach of transgenic mice are highly differentiated, and immunoblotting and immunohistochemistries of skin showed higher levels of keratin-1 expression compared with wild-type mice. The labeling index, however, of the transgenic epidermis was twice that of the wild-type epidermis. Furthermore, 8S-HETE treatment of wild-type primary keratinocytes induced keratin-1 expression. Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha) was identified as a crucial component of keratin-1 induction through transient transfection with expression vectors for PPARalpha, PPARgamma, and a dominant-negative PPAR, as well as through the use of known PPAR agonists. From these studies, it is concluded that 8S-HETE plays an important role in keratinocyte differentiation and that at least some of its effects are mediated by PPARalpha.

Lipoxin formation during human neutrophil-platelet interactions. Evidence for the transformation of leukotriene A4 by platelet 12-lipoxygenase in vitro.

Human neutrophils from peripheral blood may physically interact with platelets in several settings including hemostasis, inflammation, and a variety of vascular disorders. A role for lipoxygenase (LO)-derived products has been implicated in each of these events; therefore, we investigated the formation of lipoxins during coincubation of human neutrophils and platelets. Simultaneous addition of FMLP and thrombin to coincubations of these cells led to formation of both lipoxin A4 and lipoxin B4, which were monitored by reversed-phase high pressure liquid chromatography. Neither stimulus nor cell type alone induced the formation of these products. When leukotriene A4 (LTA4), a candidate for the transmitting signal, was added to platelets, lipoxins were formed. In cell-free 100,000 g supernatants of platelet lysates, which displayed 12-LO activity, LTA4 was also transformed to lipoxins. Platelet formation of lipoxins was inhibited by the LO inhibitor esculetin and partially sensitive to chelation of Ca2+, while neither acetylsalicylic acid nor indomethacin significantly inhibited their generation. In contrast, neutrophils did not transform LTA4 to lipoxins. Cell-free 100,000 g supernatants of neutrophil lysates converted LTA4 to LTB4. These results indicate that neutrophil-platelet interactions can lead to the formation of lipoxins from endogenous sources and provide a role for platelet 12-LO in the formation of lipoxins from LTA4.

Possible involvement of 5-lipoxygenase products in the generation of endothelium-derived relaxing factor.

Acetylcholine and substance P applied to the donor tissue, dog femoral artery segments with endothelium, produced moderate relaxations of the assay tissue, endothelium-denuded dog coronary artery strips. The relaxation was attenuated markedly by treatment of the assay tissue with hydroquinone and abolished by oxyhemoglobin or methylene blue. In this bioassay system, the effect of AA861 and TMK777, new 5-lipoxygenase inhibitors, was evaluated. When the donor tissue was treated with AA861 or TMK777, the responses to acetylcholine and substance P were attenuated moderately, whereas the relaxation by nitroglycerin was not influenced by AA861. However, the inhibitors when infused just below the donor tissue did not attenuate relaxant responses to acetylcholine and substance P. Application of superoxide dismutase (SOD) to the donor tissue caused a relaxation of the assay tissue, and potentiated the relaxation by acetylcholine and substance P. AA861 and TMK777 suppressed the relaxant responses to acetylcholine and substance P, respectively, in the presence and absence of SOD to a similar extent and abolished the SOD-induced relaxation. Pyrogallol abolished the relaxation by acetylcholine, but did not inhibit the response when the donor tissue was pretreated with SOD. Therefore, it appears that AA861 and TMK777 do not degrade endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) in the perfusate via generation of superoxide anion or block the action of EDRF on vascular smooth muscle, but interfere with the synthesis and/or release of EDRF. The findings obtained so far support the idea that lipoxygenase products participate in the generation of EDRF.

Cerebral edema induced by arachidonic acid: role of leukocytes and 5-lipoxygenase products.

Arachidonic acid is released from cellular phospholipid membranes after brain injury associated with vasogenic edema. Intracerebral injection of arachidonic acid results in rapid breakdown of the blood-brain barrier, followed by an increase in brain water and sodium content. This effect is diminished by a 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor, but is unaffected by indomethacin, an inhibitor of cyclooxygenase. Leukocytes are rich in 5-lipoxygenase and mediate posttraumatic extracellular edema in other tissues. We sought to determine whether leukocytes are necessary for arachidonic acid-induced vasogenic edema and whether they are the primary source of 5-lipoxygenase activity. Intracerebral injection of arachidonic acid (10 micrograms) was performed in 21 rats divided into three groups. One hour after injection, the area of Evans blue stain extravasation on the corona slice through the needle tract was quantitated by polar planimetry and taken as a measure of blood-brain barrier permeability. Control animals (n = 7) had a 3.44 +/- 0.19 mm2 area of Evans blue cortical stain. Rats (n = 7) pretreated with a lipoxygenase inhibitor (BW755C) had a significant decrease (P less than 0.05) in the area of Evans blue extravasation was not significantly different from that seen in the control animals. Intracerebral injection of saline or eicosapentaenoic acid showed only minimal staining along the needle tract (0.14 +/- 0.08 mm2). We have confirmed the role of the 5-lipoxygenase products in arachidonic acid-induced vasogenic edema. The primary source of cerebral 5-lipoxygenase activity does not appear to be in leukocytes and is most likely within the brain parenchyma.

Role of arachidonic acid metabolites in acid-pepsin injury to rabbit esophagus.

The role of cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase metabolites of arachidonic acid in experimental esophageal were lumenally perfused for 1 h with acidified saline (pH 2.0) with or without pepsin followed by a second hour with acidified saline. Separate groups of pepsin-perfused animals were pretreated with indomethacin, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, or BW755C, a lipoxygenase-cyclooxygenase inhibitor. Esophageal injury was graded grossly. H+ and hemoglobin fluxes were determined. Acidified saline caused no significant damage. Pepsin induced moderate injury. Indomethacin decreased pepsin-induced H+ flux by 55% without affecting the other indices. BW755C, by all measurements, dramatically increased pepsin-induced injury. In separate experiments, cyclooxygenase activity was decreased by indomethacin and BW755C by 62% and 49%, respectively. Lipoxygenase activity was decreased 74% by BW755C and was not significantly affected by indomethacin. These results suggest that esophageal cytoprotection is mediated by endogenous lipoxygenase metabolites.

The induced lipoxygenase in atherosclerotic aorta converts linoleic acid to the platelet chemorepellant factor 13-HODE.

Mammalian tissues contain 5-, 12- and 15-lipoxygenases. Only the 15-lipoxygenase can act on linoleic acid, the predominant essential fatty acid of tissues and plasma, producing 13-hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid (13-HODE). Intracellular production of 13-HODE renders endothelial cells resistant to platelet adhesion, while its hydroperoxy precursor, 13-HPODE, synergises with the platelet anti-aggregatory factor prostacyclin. We have found that a 15-lipoxygenase activity is induced in aortas of cholesterol-fed and Watanabe Heritable Hyperlipidemic (WHHL) rabbits. Aortic tissue from WHHL rabbits incubated with 3H-linoleic acid produced a major metabolite identified as 13-HODE, which was formed with an efficiency comparable to the synthesis 15-HETE from arachidonic acid. These findings indicate that the increased aortic 15-lipoxygenase in vascular tissue is capable of producing 13-HODE in vivo. Since platelet adhesion is increased in atherogenesis, and thrombogenesis is a major complication of advanced atherosclerosis, it is suggested that induction of this enzyme may be a protective response to hypercholesterolemia.

Role of the 15-lipoxygenase in the immune system.

Recent data from our laboratory, as well as supporting evidence from other investigators, strongly suggest that the PMN 15-LO exists in a cryptic state. Several stimuli, including HETEs, can convert the inactive 15-LO to an active species that can metabolize AA to a variety of products. Many of these metabolites have been reported to modulate various components of the immune response.

Relaxing effects of 15-lipoxygenase products of arachidonic acid on rat aorta.

In the presence of indomethacin, arachidonic acid relaxes precontracted rings of rat aorta only when the endothelium is intact. Arachidonate-induced, endothelium-dependent relaxation is potentiated by superoxide dismutase. In contrast, linoleic acid (LA) contracts endothelium-intact and -denuded rings. Arachidonate is metabolized in endothelial cells by both cyclo-oxygenase and 15-lipoxygenase. Therefore, we determined the vasodilatory effect of 15-lipoxygenase products. The products generated by soybean lipoxygenase (SLO) from arachidonate in the bioassay bath relax precontracted, de-endothelialized ring segments of rat aorta. This relaxation is potentiated by superoxide dismutase and is more prominent when high concentrations of SLO are used. The main metabolites recovered from the bioassay bath were 5,15-dihydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acid and 8,15-dihydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acid. At lower concentrations of SLO the degree of relaxation is less and the major product is 15-hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acid. LA is metabolized by SLO to 13-hydroperoxyoctadecadienoic acid. The relaxation induced by the incubation of LA with SLO in endothelium-denuded rings is less than that obtained with arachidonic acid. In endothelium-denuded rings that were precontracted with phenylephrine authentic 15-hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acid did not induce clear effect (at 40 microM 15-hydroperoxide caused relaxation, whereas at 15 microM induced small contraction) and 13-hydroperoxyoctadecadienoic acid of LA induced contraction. Neither 5,15-dihydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acid nor 8,15-dihydroperoxyoctadecadienoic acid (1-15 microM) induced a well defined relaxation. This study indicates that arachidonic acid is metabolized by SLO to a vasodilatory compound(s) that is possibly derived from 15-hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acid.

Regulation of human natural killing. IV. Role of lipoxygenase in regulation of natural killing activity.

In this study we demonstrated that natural killer (NK) cell lysis by human peripheral blood nonadherent (NA) cells against K562 target cells was rapidly inhibited by four agents that inhibit the lipoxygenase pathway of arachidonic acid metabolism, nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA), U-60257, alpha-phenanthroline, and esculetin. However, human NK cells activated by interferons (IFN) or poly I:C were partially resistant to suppression by NDGA and U-60257. Pretreatment of the NA cells with the four lipoxygenase inhibitors at 37 degrees C for 18 h led to suppression of NK activity. The inhibition of NK activity by NDGA was not reversed by aspirin at a concentration that inhibits PGE2 synthesis. Thus, suppression of NK activity by NDGA was not mediated by the effects on PGE2 synthesis. However, the inhibition of endogenous NK activity by NDGA, U-60257, alpha-phenanthroline, or esculetin was partially reversed by IFN or poly I:C. These results suggest that products of lipoxygenation are required for maintenance of human NK activity.

Comparison of 5- and 15-lipoxygenase activities in blood and alveolar leukocyte preparations from normal subjects and patients with eosinophilia.

The arachidonic acid lipoxygenase metabolites of polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMNL) preparations obtained from 31 subjects with eosinophilia (eosinophil content of PMNL preparations: 27.0%, 4-73, median with range) and 29 normal donors (4.5%, 0-15) were analyzed by reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography. More leukotriene (LT) C4 and 15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (HETE) (p less than 0.001) and less LTB4 (p less than 0.005) were found in eosinophil-rich preparations in comparison to controls on incubations with ionophore and arachidonic acid. In incubations with arachidonic acid alone, only small amounts of 5-lipoxygenase metabolites were produced by both groups, but the PMNL preparations from patients with eosinophilia showed higher capacity to release LTC4 and 15-HETE (p less than 0.005). In the eosinophil-rich preparations, the percentage of eosinophils correlated positively with the production of LTC4 and negatively with LTB4 (p less than 0.05, incubations with ionophore +/- arachidonic acid), and positively with 15-HETE (p less than 0.01, incubations with arachidonic acid +/- ionophore). Moreover the eosinophil-rich preparations produced more LTC4 per eosinophil in incubations with arachidonic acid alone (p less than 0.001) than normal PMNL preparations. The predominant release of LTC4 and 15-HETE by eosinophils was further confirmed by the analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage cells. Lavage cells containing eosinophils released LTC4 and 15-HETE while normal bronchoalveolar lavages, which were poor in eosinophils, did not produce detectable amount of LTC4 and 15-HETE. These results show that eosinophils release preferentially LTC4 and 15-HETE in contrast to LTB4 for the neutrophils.