Lipoxins (LXs) represent a class of arachidonic acid (AA) metabolites that carry potent immunoregulatory and anti-inflammatory properties, LXA4 and LXB4 being the main components of this series. LXs are generated by cooperation between 5-lipoxygenase (LO) and 12- or 15-LO during cell-cell interactions or by single cell types. LX epimers at carbon 15, the 15-epi-LXs, are formed by aspirin-acetylated cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in cooperation with 5-LO. 15-epi-LXA4 is also termed aspirin-triggered LX (ATL). In vivo studies with stable LX and ATL analogs have established that these eicosanoids possess potent anti-inflammatory activities. A LXA4 receptor has been cloned. It belongs to the family of chemotactic receptors and clusters with formyl peptide receptors on chromosome 19. Therefore, it was initially denominated formyl peptide receptor like 1 (FPRL1). This receptor binds with high affinity and stereoselectivity LXA4 and ATL. It also recognizes a variety of peptides, synthetic, endogenously generated, or disease associated, but with lower affinity compared to LXA4. For this reason, this receptor has been renamed ALX. This review summarizes the current knowledge on ALX expression, signaling, and potential pathophysiological role. The involvement of additional recognition sites in LX bioactions is also discussed.

Mario Romano

Irene Recchia

Antonio Recchiuti

Lipoxin Receptors

Claire Redhead

Publication of a Special Issue: Eicosanoid Receptors and Their Role in Regulating Immune and Inflammatory Responses

Prostanoids, consisting of the prostaglandins (PGs) and the thromboxanes (TXs), are a group of lipid mediators formed in response to various stimuli. They include PGD2, PGE2, PGF2α, PGI2, and TXA2. They are released outside of the cells immediately after synthesis, and exert their actions by binding to a G-protein coupled rhodopsin-type receptor on the surface of target cells. There are eight types of the prostanoid receptors conserved in mammals from mouse to human. They are the PGD receptor (DP), four subtypes of the PGE receptor (EP1, EP2, EP3, and EP4), the PGF receptor (FP), PGI receptor (IP), and TXA receptor (TP). Recently, mice deficient in each of these prostanoid receptors were generated and subjected to various experimental models of disease. These studies have revealed the roles of PG receptor signaling in various pathological conditions, and suggest that selective manipulation of the prostanoid receptors may be beneficial in treatment of the pathological conditions. Here we review these recent findings of roles of prostanoid receptor signaling and their therapeutic implications.

Toshiyuki Matsuoka

Shuh Narumiya

Prostaglandin Receptor Signaling in Disease

Eicosanoids are lipid mediators derived from the metabolism of arachidonic acid. These agents are locally released and activate different cell membrane receptors, and the latter are part of the G-protein coupled receptor family. While activation of eicosanoid receptors is associated with a wide variety of actions, there is limited information concerning the structural components of the eicosanoid receptors. To date, our understanding of the eicosanoid ligand-receptor binding interaction has been based on the rhodopsin template model. While receptors in the same family do share a common architecture, there are amino acid residues in the membrane binding pocket that play a key role in ligand recognition as well as the diversity observed in the cellular signaling. In order to understand the eicosanoid receptor binding interaction, attention must be focused on both the nature of the endogenous ligands as well as the template G-protein model that has been proposed. The data derived from chemical alterations in the endogenous ligands, together with the mutagenesis studies involving the structural modifications of the eicosanoid receptors, have suggested a working model of the eicosanoid receptors. However, the data also document various nuances in the receptor structure associated with ligand binding as well as a number of differences that will require further investigation.

Charles Brink

Structural Manipulation of Eicosanoid Receptors and Cellular Signaling

Biochemical and pharmacological studies have identified the structure of leukotrienes, the pathways that lead to their synthesis, and the signaling events they trigger when they interact with their cognate receptors. A privileged interaction exists between these lipid mediators and another group of molecules essential for inflammation and immune modulation, namely, cytokines. Whereas leukotrienes can trigger the synthesis and release of selected cytokines in distinct cell populations, many cytokines can affect cellular responsiveness to leukotrienes by modulating leukotriene receptor expression. As we progressively begin to unravel these complex interactions, new areas of cell-cell communication and eventual therapeutic interventions will emerge.

Marek Rola-Pleszczynski

Jana Stankova

Cytokine-Leukotriene Receptor Interactions

Eicosanoids are potent, bioactive, lipid mediators that regulate important components of the immune response, including defense against infection, ischemia, and injury, as well as instigating and perpetuating autoimmune and inflammatory conditions. Although these lipids have numerous effects on diverse cell types and organs, a greater understanding of their specific effects on key players of the immune system has been gained in recent years through the characterization of individual eicosanoid receptors, the identification and development of specific receptor agonists and inhibitors, and the generation of mice genetically deficient in various eicosanoid receptors. In this review, we will focus on the receptors for prostaglandin D2, DP1 and DP2/CRTH2; the receptors for leukotriene B4, BLT1 and BLT2; and the receptors for the cysteinyl leukotrienes, CysLT1 and CysLT2, by examining their specific effects on leukocyte subpopulations, and how they may act in concert towards the development of immune and inflammatory responses.

Nancy D. Kim

Andrew D. Luster

Regulation of Immune Cells by Eicosanoid Receptors

There is a growing appreciation for the wide variety of physiological responses that are regulated by lipid messengers. One particular group of lipid messengers, the eicosanoids, plays a central role in regulating immune and inflammatory responses in a receptor-mediated fashion. These mediators are related in that they are all derived from one polyunsaturated fatty acid, arachidonic acid. However, the various eicosanoids are synthesized by a wide variety of cell types by distinct enzymatic pathways, and have diverse roles in immunity and inflammation. In this review, the major pathways involved in the synthesis of eicosanoids, as well as key points of regulation, are presented.

Thomas G. Brock

Marc Peters-Golden

Activation and Regulation of Cellular Eicosanoid Biosynthesis

Leukotrienes (LTs) and prostaglandins (PGs) are metabolites of arachidonic acid that play major roles in various inflammatory conditions. The release of these mediators, by cells recruited to or present at the site of inflammation, modulate/influence the magnitude of the inflammatory response. A better understanding of eicosanoids and how their receptors trigger intracellular signaling during inflammatory conditions is helping to elucidate the well-known connection between chronic inflammatory disease and neoplastic transformation. In the current review, we summarize the role of LTs and PGs in chronic inflammation and, in particular, we focus on recent insights into the role of CysLT1 receptor signaling pathway. In addition, we delineate how continuous CysLT1 receptor activation and signaling can increase cell survival and proliferation as important early steps toward oncogenicity.

Ramin Massoumi

Anita Sjölander

The Role of Leukotriene Receptor Signaling in Inflammation and Cancer

Eicosanoid Receptors and Their Role in Regulating Immune and Inflammatory Responses

The mechanisms involved in vascular homeostasis and disease are mostly dependent on the interactions between blood, vascular smooth muscle, and endothelial cells. There is an accumulation of evidence for the involvement of prostanoids, the arachidonic acid metabolites derived from the cyclooxygenase enzymatic pathway, in physiological and/or pathophysiological conditions. In humans, the prostanoids activate different receptors. The classical prostanoid receptors (DP, EP1–4, FP, IP, and TP) are localized at the cell plasma or nuclear membrane. In addition, CRTH2 and the nuclear PPAR receptors are two other targets for prostanoids, namely, prostacyclin (PGI2) or the natural derivatives of prostaglandin D2. While there is little information on the role of CRTH2, there are many reports on PPAR activation and the consecutive expression of genes involved in the human vascular system. The role of the classical prostanoid receptors stimulated by PGI2 and thromboxane in the control of the vascular tone has been largely documented, whereas the other receptor subtypes have been overlooked. There is now increasing evidence that suggests a role of PGE2 and the EP receptor subtypes in the control of the human vascular tone and remodeling of the vascular wall. These receptors are also present on leukocytes and platelets, and they are implicated in most of the inflammatory processes within the vascular wall. Consequently, the EP receptor subtypes or isoforms would provide a novel and specific cardiovascular therapeutic approach in the near future.

Xavier Norel

Prostanoid Receptors in the Human Vascular Wall

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