Description | 20-hydroxy- Leukotriene B4 (20-OH-LTB4) is an omega-hydroxylated metabolite of leukotriene B4 in human neutrophils. Elevated urinary concentrations of 20-OH-LTB4 and LTB4 are found in patients with Sjogren-Larsson syndrome (SLS, OMIM 270220), an autosomal recessively inherited neurocutaneous disorder caused by a deficiency of the microsomal enzyme fatty aldehyde dehydrogenase (FALDH), which as an essential role in LTB4 metabolism. Preterm birth seems to be one of the features of the syndrome. The reason for the preterm birth is unclear. It is hypothesized that it relates to the defective LTB4 degradation in SLS. The pathological urinary excretion of LTB4 and 20-OH-LTB4 is a biochemical marker for SLS. Surprisingly, 20-OH-LTB4 concentrations are normal in CSF. Leukotriene B4 is the major metabolite in neutrophil polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Leukotrienes are metabolites of arachidonic acid derived from the action of 5-LO (5-lipoxygenase). The immediate product of 5-LO is LTA4 (leukotriene A4), which is enzymatically converted into either LTB4 (leukotriene B4) by LTA4 hydrolase or LTC4 (leukotriene C4) by LTC4 synthase. The regulation of leukotriene production occurs at various levels, including expression of 5-LO, translocation of 5-LO to the perinuclear region and phosphorylation to either enhance or inhibit the activity of 5-LO. Biologically active LTB4 is metabolized by w-oxidation carried out by specific cytochrome P450s (CYP4F) followed by beta-oxidation from the w-carboxy position and after CoA ester formation. Other specific pathways of leukotriene metabolism include the 12-hydroxydehydrogenase/ 15-oxo-prostaglandin-13-reductase that form a series of conjugated diene metabolites that have been observed to be excreted into human urine. Metabolism of LTC4 occurs by sequential peptide cleavage reactions involving a gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase that forms LTD4 (leukotriene D4) and a membrane-bound dipeptidase that converts LTD4 into LTE4 (leukotriene E4) before w-oxidation. These metabolic transformations of the primary leukotrienes are critical for termination of their biological activity, and defects in expression of participating enzymes may be involved in specific genetic disease. (PMID: 12709426, 9799565, 11408337, 17623009) |