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Leukotriene B4 receptor 2, also known as BLT2, BLT2 receptor, and BLTR2, is an
Integral membrane protein An integral, or intrinsic, membrane protein (IMP) is a type of membrane protein that is permanently attached to the biological membrane. All ''transmembrane proteins'' are IMPs, but not all IMPs are transmembrane proteins. IMPs comprise a sign ...
that is encoded by the LTB4R2
gene In biology, the word gene (from , ; "... Wilhelm Johannsen coined the word gene to describe the Mendelian units of heredity..." meaning ''generation'' or ''birth'' or ''gender'') can have several different meanings. The Mendelian gene is a b ...
in humans and the Ltbr2 gene in mice. Discovered several years after the leukotriene B4 receptor 1 (BLT1), BLT2 receptor binds leukotriene B4 (LTB4) with far lower affinity than the BLT1 receptor does and therefore has been termed the low affinity LTB4 receptor. Sometime after its initial discovery, the BLT2 receptor was shown to bind and become activated by several other arachidonic acid metabolites, one of which, 12-hydroxyheptadecatrienoic acid (12-HHT), has 10- to 100-fold higher affinity for it than does LTB4; 12-HHT fails to bind or activate BLT1 receptors. While BLT2 receptors have some actions similar to BLT1 receptors, they have other actions which clearly oppose those of BLT1 in regulating inflammation and allergic responses; BLT2 receptors also have actions that extend beyond those of BLT1 receptors. Laboratory, animal, and other pre-clinical studies suggest that BLT2 receptors may be involved not only in inflammation and allergy but also in human cancer.


Function

BLT2 is a
Cell surface receptor Cell surface receptors (membrane receptors, transmembrane receptors) are receptors that are embedded in the plasma membrane of cells. They act in cell signaling by receiving (binding to) extracellular molecules. They are specialized integr ...
that functions by recognizing, binding, and mediating responses to a particular set of messenger molecules or ligands. These messenger ligands are any one of a range of structurally different arachidonic acid metabolites made and released by nearby cells to act as
paracrine Paracrine signaling is a form of cell signaling, a type of cellular communication in which a cell produces a signal to induce changes in nearby cells, altering the behaviour of those cells. Signaling molecules known as paracrine factors diffuse ove ...
signals for coordinating responses between cells or
autocrine Autocrine signaling is a form of cell signaling in which a cell secretes a hormone or chemical messenger (called the autocrine agent) that binds to autocrine receptors on that same cell, leading to changes in the cell. This can be contrasted with p ...
signals for modulating their parent cells' responses.


Genes

Several years after their identification of a Leukotriene B4 (LTB4) receptor termed BLT1 or BLTR1 and encoded by the LTB4R1 gene, Shimizu and colleagues identified a second LTB4 receptor, BLT2 or BLTR2, encoded by the LTB4R2 gene. LTBR1 and LTBR2 encode for proteins with 45%
amino acid Amino acids are organic compounds that contain both amino and carboxylic acid functional groups. Although hundreds of amino acids exist in nature, by far the most important are the alpha-amino acids, which comprise proteins. Only 22 alpha ...
identity that belong to the
G protein–coupled receptor G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), also known as seven-(pass)-transmembrane domain receptors, 7TM receptors, heptahelical receptors, serpentine receptors, and G protein-linked receptors (GPLR), form a large group of evolutionarily-related p ...
superfamily. The two genes form a cluster on human and mouse chromosome 14; in humans but not mice, this cluster has a very unusual configuration in that LTBR2's
open reading frame In molecular biology, open reading frames (ORFs) are defined as spans of DNA sequence between the start and stop codons. Usually, this is considered within a studied region of a Prokaryote, prokaryotic DNA sequence, where only one of the #Six-fra ...
overlaps the Promoter (genetics) and 5'
Untranslated region In molecular genetics, an untranslated region (or UTR) refers to either of two sections, one on each side of a coding sequence on a strand of mRNA. If it is found on the 5' side, it is called the 5' UTR (or leader sequence), or if it is f ...
of LTBR1. The significance of this overlap is not known. Monkeys, rats, and dogs have also been shown to express LTB4R2 orthologs. Two BLT2-like receptors, Blt2a and Blt2b, with 49% amino acid identity to each other and 34% and 29%, respectively, amino acid identities to human BLT2 have been cloned from
Zebrafish The zebrafish (''Danio rerio'') is a freshwater fish belonging to the minnow family (Cyprinidae) of the order Cypriniformes. Native to South Asia, it is a popular aquarium fish, frequently sold under the trade name zebra danio (and thus often c ...
embryos. The latter citation presents a phylogenic tree on the amino acid relatedness of these two receptors as well as those from humans, monkeys, dogs, rats and mice to each other.


Mechanism of action

BLT2 receptors, similar to BLT1 receptors, are G protein coupled receptors that, when ligand-bound, activate
G proteins G proteins, also known as guanine nucleotide-binding proteins, are a family of proteins that act as molecular switches inside cells, and are involved in transmitting signals from a variety of stimuli outside a cell to its interior. Their ...
that contain either the Gi alpha subunit and are therefore inhibited by
pertussis toxin Pertussis toxin (PT) is a protein-based AB5-type exotoxin produced by the bacterium '' Bordetella pertussis'', which causes whooping cough. PT is involved in the colonization of the respiratory tract and the establishment of infection. ...
or the
Gq alpha subunit Gq protein alpha subunit is a family of heterotrimeric G protein alpha subunits. This family is also commonly called the Gq/11 (Gq/G11) family or Gq/11/14/15 family to include closely related family members. G alpha subunits may be referred ...
and therefore not inhibited by pertussis toxin. (Pertussis toxin sensitivity is an imported test for G protein receptor linkages.) BLT2 receptors stimulate cells to transiently elevated cytosolic calcium ion concentrations, thereby activating calcium-activated intracellular signaling molecules; it also stimulates cells to activate Extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs),
Protein kinase B Protein kinase B (PKB), also known as Akt, is the collective name of a set of three serine/threonine-specific protein kinases that play key roles in multiple cellular processes such as glucose metabolism, apoptosis, cell proliferation, t ...
(also known as Akt),
c-Jun N-terminal kinases c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs), were originally identified as kinases that bind and phosphorylate c-Jun on Ser-63 and Ser-73 within its transcriptional activation domain. They belong to the mitogen-activated protein kinase family, and are ...
(JNKs),
Janus kinase Janus kinase (JAK) is a family of intracellular, non-receptor tyrosine kinases that transduce cytokine-mediated signals via the JAK-STAT pathway. They were initially named "just another kinase" 1 and 2 (since they were just two of many discoverie ...
(JAK)- STAT protein (i.e. signal transducer and activator of transcription,
NADPH oxidase NADPH oxidase (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase) is a membrane-bound enzyme complex that faces the extracellular space. It can be found in the plasma membrane as well as in the membranes of phagosomes used by neutrophil white ...
(NOX), and NF-κB pathways. One prominent cell-activating pathway involves BLT2 receptor activation of NOX2 or NOX1 with the subsequent production 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 ...
which in turn activate the transcription inducing function of NF-κB.


Tissue distribution

The human BLT2 receptor is expressed in a wide range of tissues including spleen, blood leukocytes, liver, ovary, pancreas, heart, prostate gland, testes, small intestine, kidney, lung, colon, thymus, muscle, and placenta; this contrasts with the BLT1 receptor which appears to have a more limited expression pattern including mainly circulating blood leukocytes and lymphocytes. The mouse Blt2 receptor also shows a more limited distribution pattern than the human BLT2 receptor, showing appreciable expression in the small intestine and skin, and low expression in the colon and spleen.


Ligands

While initially defined as a low affinity receptor for the 5-lipoxygenase product of arachidonic acid metabolism, LTB4, BLT2 binds and is activated by not only LTB4 but also the cycloxygenase- thromboxane synthase enzyme pathway of arachidonic acid metabolism,
12-Hydroxyheptadecatrienoic acid 1 (one, unit, unity) is a number representing a single or the only entity. 1 is also a numerical digit and represents a single unit of counting or measurement. For example, a line segment of ''unit length'' is a line segment of length 1 ...
(12-HHT) as well as by three products of the
12-lipoxygenase ALOX12 (), also known as arachidonate 12-lipoxygenase, 12-lipoxygenase, 12''S''-Lipoxygenase, 12-LOX, and 12''S''-LOX is a lipoxygenase-type enzyme that in humans is encoded by the ''ALOX12'' gene which is located along with other lipoyxgenases on ...
pathway of arachidonic acid metabolism, 12(''S'')-HETE, 12(''S'')-HpETE, and 12(''R'')-HETE (see 12-Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid, by a member of the
15-lipoxygenase ALOX15 (also termed arachidonate 15-lipoxygenase, 15-lipoxygenase-1, 15-LO-1, 15-LOX-1) is, like other lipoxygenases, a seminal enzyme in the metabolism of polyunsaturated fatty acids to a wide range of physiologically and pathologically importa ...
pathway of arachidonic acid metabolism, 15(''S'')-HETE (see
15-Hydroxyicosatetraenoic acid 15-Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (also termed 15-HETE, 15(''S'')-HETE, and 15''S''-HETE) is an eicosanoid, i.e. a metabolite of arachidonic acid. Various cell types metabolize arachidonic acid to 15(''S'')-hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acid (15(''S' ...
), and by another member of the LTB4 family of arachidonic acid metabolites, 20-hydroxy-LTB4; the relative BLT2 receptor-binding affinities of these 7 metabolites are ~1000, 100, 10, 10, 3, 3, and 1, respectively. Thus, the most recently discovered ligand, 12-HHT, which does not bind to BLT1 receptors, shows by far the highest affinity of all of the tested ligands for BLT2 receptors. Among these 7 ligand, in contrast, BLT1 binds and is activated by only LTB4 and 20-hydroxy-LTB4. The two BLT4-like receptors in Zebrafish, Blt2a and Blt2b, when transfected into
chinese hamster ovary cell Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells are an epithelial cell line derived from the ovary of the Chinese hamster, often used in biological and medical research and commercially in the production of recombinant therapeutic proteins. They have found wid ...
s, mediate rises in cytosolic calcium responses to both 12-HHT and LTB4 with 12-HHT being about 500- to 1000-fold stronger that LTB4 in doing so; 12-HHT is inactive in this assay in chinese hamster ovary cells made to express the Zebrafish LTB4 receptor-1 (Blt1). Thus, BLT1 receptor exhibits exquisite specificity, binding 5(''S''),12(''R'')-dihydroxy-6''Z'',8''E'',10''E'',14''Z''-eicosatetraenoic acid (i.e. LTB4) but not LTB4's 12(''S'') or 6''Z'' isomers whereas the BLT2 receptor exhibits a binding pattern that includes ''S'' and ''R'' stereoisomers, aracidonic acid metabolites composed of 17 and 20 carbons, and metabolites with a
hydroxyl In chemistry, a hydroxy or hydroxyl group is a functional group with the chemical formula and composed of one oxygen atom covalently bonded to one hydrogen atom. In organic chemistry, alcohols and carboxylic acids contain one or more hydrox ...
residue at the 5, 12, or 15 position. BLT2's binding pattern can only be considered as promiscuous. This promiscuous binding pattern complicates determination of which arachidonic acid metabolite and which metabolite-forming oxygenase (i.e. cyclooxygenase or lipoxygenase) is responsible for any given BLT2-dependent response. These determinations are often critical to defining the full mechanisms involved in, as well as the means for inhibiting or promoting, the functions of BLT2. Based on the rather large structural differences in the known BLT2 receptor ligands, there may be other as yet undefined ligands that bind to and activate this receptor. For example, the
Formyl peptide receptor 2 N-formyl peptide receptor 2 (FPR2) is a G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) located on the surface of many cell types of various animal species. The human receptor protein is encoded by the ''FPR2'' gene and is activated to regulate cell function ...
(FPL2 receptor) was initially suggested to be a second receptor with ~70% amino acid identity to
Formyl peptide receptor 1 Formyl peptide receptor 1 (FPR1, FPR1 receptor, fMet-Leu-Phe receptor 1, FMLP receptor 1, or N-formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine receptor 1) is a cell surface receptor protein that in humans is encoded by the ''formyl peptide receptor 1'' (' ...
(FPL1 receptor). Both receptor types bind and are activated by a series of formylated oligopeptide chemotactic factors but FLP2 receptor appears to be a promiscuous receptor in that it also binds to and is activated by lipoxins and resolvins as well as various polypeptides and proteins. The FLP2 receptor appears to be engaged primarily in dampening and resolving inflammation responses, actions which appear to be diametrically opposite to the pro-inflammatory actions of FLP1 receptors.


Btr2 knockout mice

The expression of Blt2 receptors in mice appears limited to fewer tissues than the BLT2 receptor in humans; Blt1 is robustly expressed only in mouse small intestine and skin. LTB4R2 knockout mouse studies, therefore, may reveal a more limited role for the BLT2 receptor than that in humans. BLT2 receptor knockout mice exhibit attenuated ovalbumen-induced allergic airway eosinophilia and interleukin 13 (IL-13) content in their bronchoalveolar lavage fluid compared with
wild type The wild type (WT) is the phenotype of the typical form of a species as it occurs in nature. Originally, the wild type was conceptualized as a product of the standard "normal" allele at a locus, in contrast to that produced by a non-standard, "m ...
mice and CD4-positive T cells isolated from the knockout mice showed a reduction IL-13 production but there was no change in the bronchospasm response to ovalbumin in these mice. The BLT2 receptor and metabolic producing this were not identified. These results indicate that the Blt2 receptor functions to promote the eosinophilic-base inflammation which accompanies and may contribute to allergic lung disease; this effect may be do in part to its ability to reduce production of the pro-allergic cytokine, IL-13; the receptor does not appear to be responsible for allergen-induced bronchospasm. BLT2 receptor could play a similar role in human allergic diseases such as
asthma Asthma is a long-term inflammatory disease of the airways of the lungs. It is characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and easily triggered bronchospasms. Symptoms include episodes of wheezing, c ...
. In response to the oral administration of the
inflammation Inflammation (from la, wikt:en:inflammatio#Latin, inflammatio) is part of the complex biological response of body tissues to harmful stimuli, such as pathogens, damaged cells, or Irritation, irritants, and is a protective response involving im ...
-inducer dextran sodium sulfate, Blt2 receptor knockout mice, compared to wild type or Blt1 receptor knockout mice, exhibited: a) more severe colitis inflammation and body weight loss; b) increased
mRNA In molecular biology, messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) is a single-stranded molecule of RNA that corresponds to the genetic sequence of a gene, and is read by a ribosome in the process of synthesizing a protein. mRNA is created during the ...
expression for the pro-inflammatory cytokines interferon-γ,
IL1B Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) also known as leukocytic pyrogen, leukocytic endogenous mediator, mononuclear cell factor, lymphocyte activating factor and other names, is a cytokine protein that in humans is encoded by the ''IL1B'' gene."Catabolin" ...
, and
Interleukin 6 Interleukin 6 (IL-6) is an interleukin that acts as both a pro-inflammatory cytokine and an anti-inflammatory myokine. In humans, it is encoded by the ''IL6'' gene. In addition, osteoblasts secrete IL-6 to stimulate osteoclast formation. Smoo ...
, two pro-inflammatory
chemokines Chemokines (), or chemotactic cytokines, are a family of small cytokines or signaling proteins secreted by cells that induce directional movement of leukocytes, as well as other cell types, including endothelial and epithelial cells. In additi ...
viz., chemokine ligand 9 (also termed chemokine ligand 10) and chemokine 19 (
CCL19 Chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 19 (CCL19) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''CCL19'' gene. This gene is one of several CC cytokine genes clustered on the p-arm of chromosome 9. Cytokines are a family of secreted proteins involved in im ...
), and metalloproteinases-3, -10, and -13 in inflamed colon tissues; c) enhanced accumulation of
interferon Interferons (IFNs, ) are a group of signaling proteins made and released by host cells in response to the presence of several viruses. In a typical scenario, a virus-infected cell will release interferons causing nearby cells to heighten t ...
-producing macrophages in affected colon tissues; d) increased phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (i.e. STAT3) in the crypts of affected colon tissue; and e) reduced colon mucosa integrity and barrier function as deduced from the effects of in vitro studies on the impact of BLT2 receptor expression on leakage of FITC-dextran in Madin-Darby canine kidney II cells. These results suggest that Blt2 receptors normally function to suppress colon inflammation in mice; based on its mass content in affected colon tissues, 12-HHT appears at least partly responsible for maintaining this function by stimulating Blt2 receptors. A similar role for the 12-HHT-BLT2 axis could occur in humans and be relevant to diseases such as
ulcerative colitis Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a long-term condition that results in inflammation and ulcers of the colon and rectum. The primary symptoms of active disease are abdominal pain and diarrhea mixed with blood ( hematochezia). Weight loss, fever, an ...
and
Crohn's disease Crohn's disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that may affect any segment of the gastrointestinal tract. Symptoms often include abdominal pain, diarrhea (which may be bloody if inflammation is severe), fever, abdominal distension, ...
. LTB4R1 gene knockout provides complete protection from the joint inflammation occurring in a mouse model of rheumatoid arthritis (collagen-induced arthritis); double knockout of LTB4R1 snf LTB4R2 genes did not alter the complete protection afforded by LTB4R1 knockout. Further evidence for the role of BLT2 in arthritis was seen in a model of serum transfer arthritis where loss of BLT2 led to weakened inflammation and damage to joints. Thus, the knockout studies available to date assign BLT2 receptors a protective role in dampening certain allergic and inflammatory responses; this role contrasts with the assignment of BLT1 receptors as contributing to both these types of responses. More study is needed to determine if BLT2 receptors protect against other allergic and inflammatory responses and if they function similarly in humans.


Bltr2 transgenic mice

The overexpression of BLT2 receptors in Bltr2 transgenic mice enhances the ability of subcutaneously injected LTB4 and 12-HETE to stimulate new blood vessel formation in skin. Studies indicate that the actions of both ligands were mediated by Blt2 receptors and, that Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) stimulated BLT2 expression and 12-HETE production in Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), and that BLT2 receptor or 12-lipoxygenase knockdown inhibited VEGF-induced angiogenesis in in vitro assays. These results suggest that BLT2 receptors play critical roles in the development of VEGF-induced neovascularization and are of particular interest to the roles of BLT2 receptors in the growth and spread of cancers and in inflammation (see below).


Activities and clinical significance


Allergic airways disesase

Mouse bone marrow
mast cells A mast cell (also known as a mastocyte or a labrocyte) is a resident cell of connective tissue that contains many granule (cell biology), granules rich in histamine and heparin. Specifically, it is a type of granulocyte derived from the CFU-GEMM, ...
and human eosinophils exhibit in vitro chemotaxis responses to 12-HHT. Since both cell types are implicated in allergic reactions, this suggests that BLT2 receptors could contribute to allergic responses in mice and humans. However, in a mouse model of ovalbumin-induced allergic airway disease: a) 12-HHT and its companion cyclooxygenase metabolites,
Prostaglandin E2 Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), also known as dinoprostone, is a naturally occurring prostaglandin with oxytocic properties that is used as a medication. Dinoprostone is used in labor induction, bleeding after delivery, termination of pregnancy, a ...
and Prostaglandin D2, but not 12 other lipoxygenase or cyclooxygenase metabolites showed a statistically significantly increase in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid levels after intratracheal ovalbumin challenge; b) only 12-HHT, among the monitored BLT2 receptor-activating ligands (i.e. LTB4, the 12(''S'') stereoisomer of 12-HETE, and 15(''S'')-HETE) rose to a level capable of activating BLT2 receptors; and c) BLT2 knockout mice exhibited a greatly ''enhanced'' response to ovalabumin challenge. This study also found that the expression of BLT2 receptors was significantly reduced in
CD4+ T cell In molecular biology, CD4 ( cluster of differentiation 4) is a glycoprotein that serves as a co-receptor for the T-cell receptor (TCR). CD4 is found on the surface of immune cells such as T helper cells, monocytes, macrophages, and dendr ...
s (which are known to mediate allergy-reactions) taken from asthmatic compared to non-asthmatic human controls. Thus, BLT2 receptors suppress allergic airways disease in mice and may function similarly in humans. These studies also allow that BLT2 receptors play suppressive functions in other allergic diseases.


Inflammation

The high affinity BLT2 receptor agonist, 12-HHT, stimulates in vitro chemotactic responses in human
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 in ...
s, suggesting that this receptor, similar to BLT1 receptors, contributes to inflammation by recruiting circulating blood neutrophils to disturbed tissue sites. Other studies, however, indicate that the role of BLT2 receptors in inflammation is directed toward other cell types than neutrophils and differs very much from that of BLT1 receptors. Immortalized human skin
keratinocyte Keratinocytes are the primary type of cell found in the epidermis, the outermost layer of the skin. In humans, they constitute 90% of epidermal skin cells. Basal cells in the basal layer (''stratum basale'') of the skin are sometimes referred ...
HaCaT cells respond to ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation by generating toxic
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 ...
which in turn triggers the cells to become
apoptotic Apoptosis (from grc, ἀπόπτωσις, apóptōsis, 'falling off') is a form of programmed cell death that occurs in multicellular organisms. Biochemical events lead to characteristic cell changes ( morphology) and death. These changes inc ...
and eventually die. This response is BLT2 receptor-dependent since a) topical treatment of mouse skin with a BLT2 receptor antagonist, LY255283, protects against UVB radiation-induced apoptosis; b) BLT2-overexpressing transgenic mice exhibit more extensive skin apoptosis in response to UVB irradiation that
wild type The wild type (WT) is the phenotype of the typical form of a species as it occurs in nature. Originally, the wild type was conceptualized as a product of the standard "normal" allele at a locus, in contrast to that produced by a non-standard, "m ...
mice; and c) 12-HHT inhibits HaCaT cells from synthesizing the pro-inflammation mediator,
interleukin-6 Interleukin 6 (IL-6) is an interleukin that acts as both a pro-inflammatory cytokine and an anti-inflammatory myokine. In humans, it is encoded by the ''IL6'' gene. In addition, osteoblasts secrete IL-6 to stimulate osteoclast formation. Sm ...
(IL-6), in response to UVB radiation. Furthermore, BLT2 receptor knock-out mice mount of more severe intestinal inflammation response to dextran sodium sulfate than either wild type or BLT1 receptor knockout mice (see Knockout studies). Thus, BLT2 receptors appear responsible for suppressing UVB-induced skin inflammation and, in contrast to BLT1 receptors, oppose the development and thereby dampen the severity of experimental colitis in mice.


Cancer

The
Ras subfamily Ras, from "Rat sarcoma virus", is a family of related proteins that are expressed in all animal cell lineages and organs. All Ras protein family members belong to a class of protein called small GTPase, and are involved in transmitting signals ...
of small GTPases function as
Signal transduction Signal transduction is the process by which a chemical or physical signal is transmitted through a cell as a series of molecular events, most commonly protein phosphorylation catalyzed by protein kinases, which ultimately results in a cellular ...
proteins by transmitting the presence of extracellular stimuli into inducing the expression of genes which regulate cellular survival, proliferation, differention, adherence to
extracellular matrix In biology, the extracellular matrix (ECM), also called intercellular matrix, is a three-dimensional network consisting of extracellular macromolecules and minerals, such as collagen, enzymes, glycoproteins and hydroxyapatite that provide struc ...
, and motility as well as factors that are released to promote new blood vessel formation (i.e. Neovascularization) and to alter the extracellular matrix; the three members of this subfamily, KRAS, NRAS (i.e. Neuroblastoma RAS viral oncogene homolog), and
HRAS GTPase HRas, from "Harvey Rat sarcoma virus", also known as transforming protein p21 is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the gene. The ''HRAS'' gene is located on the short (p) arm of chromosome 11 at position 15.5, from base pair 522,241 ...
, develop point mutations to become
oncogenes An oncogene is a gene that has the potential to cause cancer. In tumor cells, these genes are often mutated, or expressed at high levels.
that drive the growth and spread of some 20% of all human cancers. The highest levels of Ras mutations are found in adenocarcinoma of the pancreas (90%), colon (50%), and lung (30%) Bos, 1989). Race oncogenes can stimulate arachidonic acid metabolism: a) HRAS, in a rat intestinal epithelial cell line, and KRAS, in a rat lung epithelial cell line, up-regulate COX2 expression and prostglandin synthesis; b) HRAS induces 12-lipoxygenase in the human epidermoid carcinoma A431 cells; and c) HRAS stimulates the expression of 5-lipoxygenase, 5-lipoxygenase-activating protein, LTB4, and BLT2 receptors Rat2 and a rat
fibroblast A fibroblast is a type of biological cell that synthesizes the extracellular matrix and collagen, produces the structural framework ( stroma) for animal tissues, and plays a critical role in wound healing. Fibroblasts are the most common cells of ...
cell lines thereby increasing the tumor-forming ability the latter cell line in athymic mice. These studies suggest that the metabolites of cyclooxygenase, 5-lipoxygenase, and 12-lipoxygenase, i.e. 12-HHT, LTB4, and 12-HTE, respectively, may act through BLT2 receptors to contribute to the growth and spread of cancers initiated and/or oncogenic Ras and possibly other oncogenes. This is supported by findings that BLT2 is abnormally expressed in many human cancers that concurrently overexpress these arachidonic acid metabolizing pathways viz., follicular thyroid adenoma, Renal cell carcinoma, urinary bladder Transitional cell carcinoma, esophagus
squamous cell carcinoma Squamous-cell carcinomas (SCCs), also known as epidermoid carcinomas, comprise a number of different types of cancer that begin in squamous cells. These cells form on the surface of the skin, on the lining of hollow organs in the body, and on th ...
,
colon adenocarcinoma Colorectal cancer (CRC), also known as bowel cancer, colon cancer, or rectal cancer, is the development of cancer from the colon or rectum (parts of the large intestine). Signs and symptoms may include blood in the stool, a change in bowel mo ...
, the
Serous cystadenocarcinoma Serous cystadenocarcinoma is a type of tumor in the cystadenocarcinoma grouping. Most commonly, the primary site of serous cystadenocarcinoma is the ovary The ovary is an organ in the female reproductive system that produces an ovum. When re ...
type of
ovarian cancer Ovarian cancer is a cancerous tumor of an ovary. It may originate from the ovary itself or more commonly from communicating nearby structures such as fallopian tubes or the inner lining of the abdomen. The ovary is made up of three different ...
, and uterine cervical carcinoma. Other studies have implicated BLT2 in these and other types of cancer as follows.


Prostate cancer

12-HHT stimulates the PC3 human
prostate cancer Prostate cancer is cancer of the prostate. Prostate cancer is the second most common cancerous tumor worldwide and is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related mortality among men. The prostate is a gland in the male reproductive system that su ...
cell line to activate several pro-growth and/or pro-survival signaling pathways including
protein kinase B Protein kinase B (PKB), also known as Akt, is the collective name of a set of three serine/threonine-specific protein kinases that play key roles in multiple cellular processes such as glucose metabolism, apoptosis, cell proliferation, t ...
, phosphoinositide 3-kinase, protein kinase C,
proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase Src Proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase Src, also known as proto-oncogene c-Src, or simply c-Src (cellular Src; pronounced "sarc", as it is short for sarcoma), is a non-receptor tyrosine kinase protein that in humans is encoded by the ''SRC'' gen ...
, and (by inducing the proteolytic cleavage and release of a ligand for the
Epidermal growth factor receptor The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR; ErbB-1; HER1 in humans) is a transmembrane protein that is a receptor for members of the epidermal growth factor family (EGF family) of extracellular protein ligands. The epidermal growth factor rec ...
GFRreceptor from
HB-EGF Heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor (HB-EGF) is a member of the EGF family of proteins that in humans is encoded by the ''HBEGF'' gene. HB-EGF-like growth factor is synthesized as a membrane-anchored mitogenic and chemotactic glycoprotein. ...
), EGFR. When detached from surfaces, cultured non-malignant PWR-1E and PC3 prostate cancer cells die by engaging suicidal apoptosis pathways, a reaction termed anoikis. This is accompanied by increased expression of BLT2 receptors, activation of
NADPH oxidase NADPH oxidase (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase) is a membrane-bound enzyme complex that faces the extracellular space. It can be found in the plasma membrane as well as in the membranes of phagosomes used by neutrophil white ...
(NOX), increases in NOX-mediated production 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 ...
(ROS), and ROS-induced activation of the pro-survival transcription factor,
NF-κB Nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) is a protein complex that controls transcription of DNA, cytokine production and cell survival. NF-κB is found in almost all animal cell types and is involved in cellular ...
. Ectopic expression and stimulation of BLT2 receptors by 12(''S'')-HETE or a synthetic BLT2 receptor agonist, CAY-10583, inhibits whereas Gene knockdown by
mRNA In molecular biology, messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) is a single-stranded molecule of RNA that corresponds to the genetic sequence of a gene, and is read by a ribosome in the process of synthesizing a protein. mRNA is created during the ...
interference or pharmacological inhibition by LY255283 enhances these cells' anoikis response to surface detachment. Unlike PC-3 cells, LNCaP and CWR22rv-1 human prostate cancer cell lines require exogenous
androgen An androgen (from Greek ''andr-'', the stem of the word meaning "man") is any natural or synthetic steroid hormone that regulates the development and maintenance of male characteristics in vertebrates by binding to androgen receptors. This in ...
for their survival; this mimics the androgen dependency exhibited by most human prostate cancers in their early, untreated stages. Both cell lines overexpress BLT2 receptors compared to the PWR-1E non-malignant human prostate cell line. Treatment with the BLT2 receptor antagonist, Ly255283, caused both cell lines to become apoptotic; furthermore, BLT2 receptor knockdown using interference mRNA caused LNCaP but not PWR-1E cell apoptosis. The effect appears due to the loss of BLT2-induced NOX4 generation, consequential reactive oxygen species-induced NF-κB-activation, and NF-κB-stimulated expression of androgen receptors. 12-HETE also increases the survival of PC-3 cells by helping to maintain high levels of phosphorylated Rb retinoblastoma protein, an effect which reduces the ability of retinoblastoma protein to inhibit the synthesis of DNA and thereby cell division. Finally, 12-lipoxygenase is overexpressed and the mass of 12-HETE is far higher in human prostate cancer than nearby normal prostate tissue; These findings suggest that BLT2 receptors operate to promote the survival, growth, and spread of human prostate cancer It remains unclear which if any of its 12-HHT, LTB4, and/or 12-HETE ligands mediate BLT2 receptor activation in the human disease.


Uninary bladder cancer

LTB4 and 12(S)-HETE stimulate the invasiveness in an in vitro Matrigel invasion assay of highly malignant human 253 J-BV urinary bladder cancer cell; their activity in this assay is completely inhibited by a pharmacological inhibition or siRNA knockdown of BLT2 receptors. The expression of 5-lipoxygenase, 5-lipoxygenase-activating protein, 12-lipoxygenase (enzymes synthesizing LTB4 and 12(S)-HETE, respectively) as wells as LTB4 and 12(S)-HETE were substantially elevated in these cells. Pretreatment of these cells with an inhibitor of BLT2 receptors, reduced their tumor forming ability after injection into mice; intraperitoneal injections of LY255283 into the mice also decreased the metastasis-forming ability of the cells after injection in the urinary bladder. Finally, BLT2 receptor protein was over expressed by the malignant tissues of human urinary bladder cancer and this expression was positively associated with the severity of this cancer. The action of BLT2 receptors, similar to their actions on prostate cancer cells, appeared to involve the receptors activation of the NOX, reactive species of oxygen, NK-κB pathway. These results suggest that BLT2 receptors contribute to the aggressiveness and progression of human urinary bladder cancer.


Breast cancer

Compared to non-malignant IMR-90 and immortalized but non-malignant MCF-10A human breast cancer cell lines,
MCF-7 MCF-7 is a breast cancer cell line isolated in 1970 from a 69-year-old White woman. MCF-7 is the acronym of Michigan Cancer Foundation-7, referring to the institute in Detroit where the cell line was established in 1973 by Herbert Soule and co-wor ...
,
ZR-75-1 ZR-75-1 is a human breast cancer cell line An immortalised cell line is a population of cells from a multicellular organism which would normally not proliferate indefinitely but, due to mutation, have evaded normal cellular senescence and ins ...
,
T47-D T-47D is a human breast cancer cell line commonly used in biomedical research involving the hormonal expression of cancer cells. Characteristics The cells were derived from the pleural effusion of a ductal carcinoma found in the mammary gland ...
, MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-468,
MDA-MB-453 MDA-MB-453 is a human breast cancer Cell culture#Isolation of cells, cell line. MDA-MB-453 Characteristics History The MDA-MB-453 cell cancer line was derived in 1976 from the pericardial effusion of a 48-year-old female who was suffering fr ...
, and SK-BR-3 human breast cancer cell lines (see
list of breast cancer cell lines Scientists study the behaviour of isolated cells grown in the laboratory for insights into how cells function in the body in health and disease. Experiments using cell culture Cell culture or tissue culture is the process by which cells are ...
) overexpress BLT2 mRNA and protein but show relatively little expression of BLT1 mRNA; treatment of the malignant but not non-malignant cells with a BLT2 antagonist, LY255283, but not a BLT1 antagonist, U75302, blocked proliferation of the cells in culture. LY255283 concurrently caused apoptosis in
estrogen receptor negative Estrogen receptors (ERs) are a group of proteins found inside cells. They are receptors that are activated by the hormone estrogen (17β-estradiol). Two classes of ER exist: nuclear estrogen receptors (ERα and ERβ), which are members of the nu ...
MDA-MB-468 and
MDA-MB-453 MDA-MB-453 is a human breast cancer Cell culture#Isolation of cells, cell line. MDA-MB-453 Characteristics History The MDA-MB-453 cell cancer line was derived in 1976 from the pericardial effusion of a 48-year-old female who was suffering fr ...
but not
estrogen receptor positive Estrogen receptors (ERs) are a group of proteins found inside cells. They are receptors that are activated by the hormone estrogen (17β-estradiol). Two classes of ER exist: nuclear estrogen receptors (ERα and ERβ), which are members of the nu ...
MCF-7 MCF-7 is a breast cancer cell line isolated in 1970 from a 69-year-old White woman. MCF-7 is the acronym of Michigan Cancer Foundation-7, referring to the institute in Detroit where the cell line was established in 1973 by Herbert Soule and co-wor ...
and
T47-D T-47D is a human breast cancer cell line commonly used in biomedical research involving the hormonal expression of cancer cells. Characteristics The cells were derived from the pleural effusion of a ductal carcinoma found in the mammary gland ...
malignant cells. Since LY255283 also inhibits the BLT1 receptor, the apoptosis-inhibiting action of BLT2 receptors was also demonstrated by showing that
siRNA Small interfering RNA (siRNA), sometimes known as short interfering RNA or silencing RNA, is a class of double-stranded RNA at first non-coding RNA molecules, typically 20-24 (normally 21) base pairs in length, similar to miRNA, and operating ...
-induced transient Gene knockdown of BLT2 receptors caused apoptosis in the MDA-MB-468 cell line. BLT2 receptors link to the activation of the
NADPH oxidase NADPH oxidase (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase) is a membrane-bound enzyme complex that faces the extracellular space. It can be found in the plasma membrane as well as in the membranes of phagosomes used by neutrophil white ...
, NOX1 (a synthesizer of the Superoxide anion which is a
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 ...
that, when inappropriately overproduced, causes cell death and tissue injury); the attendant increased production 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 ...
and activation of
NF-κB Nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) is a protein complex that controls transcription of DNA, cytokine production and cell survival. NF-κB is found in almost all animal cell types and is involved in cellular ...
appeared responsible for these BLT-2 receptor dependent effects.
Lipopolysaccharide Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) are large molecules consisting of a lipid and a polysaccharide that are bacterial toxins. They are composed of an O-antigen, an outer core, and an inner core all joined by a covalent bond, and are found in the outer ...
(i.e.
endotoxin Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) are large molecules consisting of a lipid and a polysaccharide that are bacterial toxins. They are composed of an O-antigen, an outer core, and an inner core all joined by a covalent bond, and are found in the outer m ...
) stimulates MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-435 cells to increase their invasiveness as determined with in vitro Matrigel Invasion Chamber assays; this effect appears due to its ability to induce the overexpression of BLT2 receptors, the enzymes which produce LTB4 and 12(''S'')-HETEs, and the key metabolites of these enzymes, LTB4 and 12(''S'')-HETE; furthermore, the latter the binding of the latter metabolites to cells overexpressed BLT2 receptors leads to the activation of NF-κB. These results indicate that the 12-HETE/BLT2 interaction reduces the survival of cultured human breast cells by stimulating the production of reactive oxygen species and the activation of NF-κB. Epithelial–mesenchymal transition, a process whereby epithelial cells assume a mesenchymal phenotype, is proposed to occur in a subset of cells in various cancer tissues to promote their movement from a tumor site into blood and lymphatic vessels and thereby form distant metastases. Human breast cancer often expresses and appears promoted by Ras proteins (see
carcinogenesis Carcinogenesis, also called oncogenesis or tumorigenesis, is the formation of a cancer, whereby normal cells are transformed into cancer cells. The process is characterized by changes at the cellular, genetic, and epigenetic levels and abnor ...
and the
Ras subfamily Ras, from "Rat sarcoma virus", is a family of related proteins that are expressed in all animal cell lineages and organs. All Ras protein family members belong to a class of protein called small GTPase, and are involved in transmitting signals ...
). The forced expression of oncogenic Ras in cultured human MCF-10A breast cancer cells markedly up-regulates BLT2 receptors and this up-regulation appears essential for the epithelial–mesenchymal transition-promoting ability of
Transforming growth factor beta Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) is a multifunctional cytokine belonging to the transforming growth factor superfamily that includes three different mammalian isoforms (TGF-β 1 to 3, HGNC symbols TGFB1, TGFB2, TGFB3) and many other ...
in these cells; BLT2 receptors in these cells appear to stimulate the production of reactive oxygen species and activation of NF-κB and may thereby contribute to the metastatic ability of breast cancer. Since BLT2 receptors are significantly elevated in human breast cancer tissue compared to non-cancerous breast tissue, the cited studies, when taken together, indicate that BLT2 receptors promote the malignant growth, invasiveness, metastasis and possibly anti-cancer drug resistance of not only cultured human breast cancer cells but also of human breast cancer.


Ovarian cancer

Compared to CAOV-3 human ovarian cancer cells, SKOV-3 and CAOV-3 human ovarian cancer cells over express BLT4 receptors, LTB4 and 12-HETE metabolizing enzymes, two key metabolites of these enzymes, LTB4 and 12-HETE, and activated STAT3 also are far more invasive in animal models. Inhibition of BLT2 receptors by LY255283 but not of BLT1 receptors by U75302 and suppression of BLT2 receptors by siRNA treatment reduced the expression of NOX4 (i.e. NADPH oxidase 4, the reactive oxygen species made by this enzyme, activated STAT3, the invasion-promoting enzyme,
MMP 2 Gelatinase A, also known as MMP2 (, ''72-kDa gelatinase'', ''matrix metalloproteinase 2'', ''type IV collagenase'', ''3/4 collagenase'', ''matrix metalloproteinase 5'', ''72 kDa gelatinase type A'', ''collagenase IV'', ''collagenase type IV'', ''MM ...
, and the in vitro invasiveness (Matrigel invasion assay) of SKOV-3 and CAOV-3 cells. LY255283 also inhibited the
peritoneum The peritoneum is the serous membrane forming the lining of the abdominal cavity or coelom in amniotes and some invertebrates, such as annelids. It covers most of the intra-abdominal (or coelomic) organs, and is composed of a layer of mesot ...
metastasis of intra-peritoneal injected SKOV-3 cells in athymic mice. These studies indicate that the stimulation of BLT4 receptors by LTB4 and/or 12-HETE operate through a NOX4-reactive oxygen species-STAT-3-MMP2 pathway to promote the metastasis of SKOV-3 and CAOV-3 cancer cells in mice and may act similarly to promote metastases in human ovarian cancer.


Pancreatic cancer

BLT2 receptor protein and mRNA was found to be markedly elevated in human advanced pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasias in their primary pancreas sites as well as in
lymph node A lymph node, or lymph gland, is a kidney-shaped organ of the lymphatic system and the adaptive immune system. A large number of lymph nodes are linked throughout the body by the lymphatic vessels. They are major sites of lymphocytes that inc ...
metastasis Metastasis is a pathogenic agent's spread from an initial or primary site to a different or secondary site within the host's body; the term is typically used when referring to metastasis by a cancerous tumor. The newly pathological sites, then, ...
sites; mRNA for BLT1 was also elevated in these tissues but to a ~5-fold greater extent. Both receptors' mRNA were also expressed in a wide range of human pancreas cancer cell lines with BLT1 receptor mRNA ~2-fold greater than that for BLT2. The stable over expression of BLT2 in AsPC-1, Colo357, and
PANC-1 PANC-1 is a human pancreatic cancer cell line isolated from a pancreatic carcinoma of Ductal cells, ductal cell origin. PANC-1 was derived from the tissue of a 56-year-old male. The cells can metastasis, metastasize but have poor differentiation a ...
human pancreas cancer cell lines increased these cells' in vitro growth rates; specific BLT2 agonists also stimulated Colo367 and Panc-1 cell growth. BLT2 receptors mediated the in vitro migration of Panc-1 cells. These results allow that BLT2 receptors may contribute to the malignant growth and metastasis of human pancreas cancer.


Colon cancer

The proliferation of Caco-2 human epithelial colorectal adenocarcinoma cells in culture was stimulated by 12-HETE and inhibited by a somewhat selective inhibitor of 12-lipoxygenase, baicalein; the stimulatory effect of 12-HETE appeared due to its interaction with BLT2 receptors based on the effects of pharmacological inhibitors.


Esophageal cancer

Esophagus
squamous cell carcinoma Squamous-cell carcinomas (SCCs), also known as epidermoid carcinomas, comprise a number of different types of cancer that begin in squamous cells. These cells form on the surface of the skin, on the lining of hollow organs in the body, and on th ...
overexpresses BLT2 receptors.


Other activities

The BLT2 receptor mediates the itch scratching behavior induced by intradermal injection of 12-HETE in mice.


Antagonist

LY255283 has been presented as a "selective" BLT2 receptor antagonist. However, this compound is also a BLT1 receptor agonists and therefore cannot be used to discriminate between these two receptor types. In all of the studies using LY255283 quoted above, other methods, such as siRNA knockdown, were used in conjunction with LY255283 to identify BLT2-dependency. Currently, there are no reports on selective BLT2 receptor antagonists.


See also

* Eicosanoid receptor *
12-Hydroxyheptadecatrienoic acid 1 (one, unit, unity) is a number representing a single or the only entity. 1 is also a numerical digit and represents a single unit of counting or measurement. For example, a line segment of ''unit length'' is a line segment of length 1 ...
* 12-Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid *
15-Hydroxyicosatetraenoic acid 15-Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (also termed 15-HETE, 15(''S'')-HETE, and 15''S''-HETE) is an eicosanoid, i.e. a metabolite of arachidonic acid. Various cell types metabolize arachidonic acid to 15(''S'')-hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acid (15(''S' ...


References


Further reading

* * * * * * * * * *


External links

* * {{Prostanoidergics G protein-coupled receptors