Lipoxygenase activities of the epithelial cells of the human buccal cavity

• Published in: Biochemical and biophysical research communications Vol. 160; no. 2; p. 545
• Main Author: Green, F A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 28-04-1989
• Subjects: 12-Hydroxy-5,8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic Acid; Arachidonic Acid; Arachidonic Acids; Cell Differentiation; Cells, Cultured; Cheek - enzymology; Cheek - metabolism; Cheek - physiology; Chromatography, Gas; Epithelium - enzymology; Epithelium - metabolism; Epithelium - physiology; Humans; Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic Acids - biosynthesis; Lipoxygenase - metabolism
• ISSN: 0006-291X
• DOI: 10.1016/0006-291X(89)92467-4

The lipoxygenase activities of cultured human buccal epithelial cells and cells taken ex vivo from the human buccal cavity were compared. Lipoxygenation by cultured cells exhibited exclusively omega-6 positional specificity. A membrane-damaging event such as freezing was required for activation. In contrast, after simple addition of arachidonic acid, the ex vivo buccal cells produced predominantly 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid. Chromatography on chiral columns yielded products which had an (S) configuration at the site of oxygen insertion. 5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid was transformed by ex vivo buccal cells to 5(S),12(S)-dihydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid. These products could have a role in modulation of inflammatory states of the oral cavity.