Expression of 5-Lipoxygenase and 5-Lipoxygenase-Activating Protein mRNAs in the Peripheral Blood Leukocytes of Asthmatics

• Published in: Biochemical and biophysical research communications Vol. 247; no. 2; pp. 510 - 513
• Main Authors: Koshino, Takeshi, Takano, Saeko, Houjo, Takako, Sano, Yasuyuki, Kudo, Koichiro, Kihara, Hidetoshi, Kitani, Sei-ichi, Takaishi, Toshiaki, Hirai, Koichi, Ito, Koji, Morita, Yutaka
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 18-06-1998
• Subjects: 5-Lipoxygenase-Activating Proteins; Adult; Arachidonate 5-Lipoxygenase - genetics; Asthma - blood; Asthma - genetics; Base Sequence; Carrier Proteins - genetics; Case-Control Studies; DNA Primers - genetics; Eosinophils; Female; Gene Expression; Humans; Leukocyte Count; Leukocytes - metabolism; Male; Membrane Proteins - genetics; Middle Aged; RNA, Messenger - blood; RNA, Messenger - genetics
• ISSN: 0006-291X; 1090-2104
• DOI: 10.1006/bbrc.1998.8789

Leukotrienes are a family of arachidonic acid metabolites with potent biological activities such as bronchoconstriction and leukocyte chemotaxis. Recent evidence has demonstrated that the 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) and 5-lipoxygenase-activating protein (FALP) products of arachidonic acid metabolism, leukotriene C4, D4 and E4, were increased in the serum and the urine of asthmatic patients. Therefore, we examined the expression of 5-LO and FLAP mRNAs in the peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) of 10 asthmatics and 10 controls. Both 5-LO and FLAP mRNAs of PBL in the asthmatic group were found to be significantly increased compared with those in the control group. These data suggest that up-regulation of 5-LO and FLAP mRNAs might be involved in the increased leukotriene synthesis and play an important role in the pathogenesis of asthma.