Highly purified guinea pig type II pneumocytes have the leukotriene A4 hydrolase but do not express 5-lipoxygenase activity

A leukotriene receptor antagonist modulates iNOS in the lung and in a leukotriene-free cell model

Nitric oxide (NO), an important cell signaling molecule, is considered a marker of inflammatory response and is elevated in asthmatics. This study investigated the effects of montelukast (a leukotriene receptor antagonist) on iNOS expression and activity in a Brown Norway (BN) rat allergic inflammation model and in L2 lung epithelial cells. Allergic inflammation was induced by ovalbumin (OVA) injection in BN rats followed by treatment with either montelukast or dexamethasone (DX). Allergen inhalation was performed, and post-allergen Penh was measured 5 min after the challenge. Cysteinyl leukotriene levels were measured in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and lung iNOS expression and activity determined. These parameters were also measured in cytokine stimulated L2 lung epithelial cells. iNOS expression was significantly higher in OVA challenged rats compared to the naive, DX, and montelukast treated groups, as confirmed by immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis. However, no significant differences in NOS activity were found. Cysteinyl leukotriene measured in BAL was significantly higher in all OVA challenged rats compared to naive controls. Incubation of L2 cells with a mixture of interferon gamma (IFNgamma), lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and tumor necrosis factor (TNFalpha) resulted in high levels of nitrite formation resulting from iNOS induction. Treatment of cytokine stimulated cells with DX or montelukast significantly decreased iNOS expression and activity. No detectable cysteinyl leukotrienes were found in the supernatant fluid of L2 cells. This study confirms the ability of montelukast to modulate iNOS function and raises the possibility that changes in iNOS expression and activity may occur via pathways independent of cysteinyl leukotrienes.

Determination of the Contribution of Cysteinyl Leukotrienes and Leukotriene B4 in Acute Inflammatory Responses Using 5-Lipoxygenase- and Leukotriene A4 Hydrolase-Deficient Mice

Arachidonic acid metabolism by 5-lipoxygenase leads to production of the potent inflammatory mediators, leukotriene (LT) B4 and the cysteinyl LT. Relative synthesis of these subclasses of LT, each with different proinflammatory properties, depends on the expression and subsequent activity of LTA4 hydrolase and LTC4 synthase, respectively. LTA4 hydrolase differs from other proteins required for LT synthesis because it is expressed ubiquitously. Also, in vitro studies indicate that it possesses an aminopeptidase activity. Introduction of cysteinyl LT and LTB4 into animals has shown LTB4 is a potent chemoattractant, while the cysteinyl LT alter vascular permeability and smooth muscle tone. It has been impossible to determine the relative contributions of these two classes of LT to inflammatory responses in vivo or to define possible synergy resulting from the synthesis of both classes of mediators. To address this question, we have generated LTA4 hydrolase-deficient mice. These mice develop normally and are healthy. Using these animals, we show that LTA4 hydrolase is required for the production of LTB4 in an in vivo inflammatory response. We show that LTB4 is responsible for the characteristic influx of neutrophils accompanying topical arachidonic acid and that it contributes to the vascular changes seen in this model. In contrast, LTB4 influences only the cellular component of zymosan A-induced peritonitis. Furthermore, LTA4 hydrolase-deficient mice are resistant to platelet-activating factor, identifying LTB4 as one mediator of the physiological changes seen in systemic shock. We do not identify an in vivo role for the aminopeptidase activity of LTA4 hydrolase.