Leukotriene C4 synthesis and export in human platelets and leukocytes : LTC4 synthase expression in normal and leukemic myeloid cells

TL;DRAbstract

<p>Leukotriene (LT)C4 synthase catalyses conjugation of the unstable epoxide LTA4 with reduced glutathione and is the rate-limiting enzyme in the formation of cysteinyl leukotrienes, powerful mediators of asthma and inflammation.</p><p>The presence of LTC4 synthase in platelets was demonstrated by purification and characterization of bovine platelet LTC4 synthase. Screening of platelets from six mammalian species for LTC4 synthase activity revealed that bovine, equine, ovine, rabbit and rat platelets produced LTC4 with variable efficiency after incubation with LTA4. In contrast, porcine platelets failed to transform LTA4 to LTC4. Instead, these cells produced LTB4, indicating the presence of LTA4 hydrolase in these cells. Partial information concerning the primary structure of bovine and equine LTC4 synthase was obtained by protein sequencing and cloning by PCR. The capacity of human platelets to actively release LTC4 upon incubation with LTA4 was investigated. The pr

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