Leukotriene B4 (LTB4) is a

leukotriene Leukotrienes are a family of eicosanoid inflammatory mediators produced in leukocytes by the oxidation of arachidonic acid (AA) and the essential fatty acid eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) by the enzyme arachidonate 5-lipoxygenase. Leukotrienes ...

involved in

inflammation Inflammation (from la, inflammatio) is part of the complex biological response of body tissues to harmful stimuli, such as pathogens, damaged cells, or irritants, and is a protective response involving immune cells, blood vessels, and molec ...

. It has been shown to promote insulin resistance in obese mice.

Biochemistry

Leukotriene B4 (LTB4) is a

involved in

. It is produced from leukocytes in response to inflammatory mediators and is able to induce the adhesion and activation of leukocytes on the

endothelium The endothelium is a single layer of squamous endothelial cells that line the interior surface of blood vessels and lymphatic vessels. The endothelium forms an interface between circulating blood or lymph in the lumen and the rest of the vesse ...

, allowing them to bind to and cross it into the tissue. In

neutrophil Neutrophils (also known as neutrocytes or heterophils) are the most abundant type of granulocytes and make up 40% to 70% of all white blood cells in humans. They form an essential part of the innate immune system, with their functions varying ...

s, it is also a potent chemoattractant, and is able to induce the formation of

reactive oxygen species In chemistry, reactive oxygen species (ROS) are highly reactive chemicals formed from diatomic oxygen (). Examples of ROS include peroxides, superoxide, hydroxyl radical, singlet oxygen, and alpha-oxygen. The reduction of molecular oxygen () p ...

and the release of

lysosomal A lysosome () is a membrane-bound organelle found in many animal cells. They are spherical vesicles that contain hydrolytic enzymes that can break down many kinds of biomolecules. A lysosome has a specific composition, of both its membrane pro ...

enzymes by these cells. It is synthesized by

leukotriene-A4 hydrolase Leukotriene A4 hydrolase, also known as LTA4H is a human gene. The protein encoded by this gene is a bifunctional enzyme () which converts leukotriene A4 to leukotriene B4 and acts as an aminopeptidase. Function This enzyme belongs to the family ...

from

leukotriene A4 Leukotriene A4 (LTA4) is a leukotriene, and is the precursor for the productions of LTB4 (leukotriene B)) and LTC4 (leukotriene C4). Biosynthesis of Leukotriene A4 Following the biosynthesis of eicosanoid, triggered as a result of infection or ...

Diabetes

A study at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine has shown that leukotriene B4 promotes insulin resistance in obese mice. Obesity is the major cause of type 2 diabetes insulin resistance.

References

Eicosanoids {{biochemistry-stub