Epi-lipoxins are trihydroxy (i.e. containing 3

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 hydroxy ...

residues) metabolites of

arachidonic acid Arachidonic acid (AA, sometimes ARA) is a polyunsaturated omega−6 fatty acid 20:4(ω−6), or 20:4(5,8,11,14). It is a precursor in the formation of leukotrienes, prostaglandins, and thromboxanes. Together with omega−3 fatty acids an ...

. They are 15''R''-epimers of their

lipoxin A lipoxin (LX or Lx), an acronym for lipoxygenase interaction product, is a bioactive autacoid metabolite of arachidonic acid made by various cell types. They are categorized as nonclassic eicosanoids and members of the specialized pro-resolvi ...

counterparts; that is, the epi-lipoxins, 15-epi-lipoxin A4 (15-epi-LxA4) and 15-epi-lipoxin B4 (15-epi-LXB4), differ from their respective lipoxin A4 (LxA4) and lipoxin B4 (LxB4) epimers in that their 15-hydroxy residue has ''R'' rather than ''S''

chirality Chirality () is a property of asymmetry important in several branches of science. The word ''chirality'' is derived from the Greek (''kheir''), "hand", a familiar chiral object. An object or a system is ''chiral'' if it is distinguishable fro ...

. Formulae for these lipoxins (Lx) are: *LxA4: 5''S'',6''R'',15''S''-trihydroxy-7''E'',9''E'',11''Z'',13''E''-eicosatetraenoic acid *LxB4: 5''S'',14''R'',15''S''-trihydroxy-6''E'',8''Z'',10''E'',12''E''-eicosatetraenoic acid *15-epi-LxA4: 5''S'',6''R'',15''R''-trihydroxy-7''E'',9''E'',11''Z'',13''E''-eicosatetraenoic acid *15-epi-LxB4: 5''S'',14''R'',15''R''-trihydroxy-6''E'',8''Z'',10''E'',12''E''-eicosatetraenoic acid The two-epi-Lx's as well as the two lx's are nonclassic eicosanoids that, like other members of the specialized pro-resolving mediators class of autocoids, form during and act to resolve inflammatory responses. Synthesis of the lipoxins typically involves a

lipoxygenase Lipoxygenases () (LOX) are a family of (non- heme) iron-containing enzymes, more specifically oxidative enzymes, most of which catalyze the dioxygenation of polyunsaturated fatty acids in lipids containing a cis,cis-1,4- pentadiene into ce ...

enzyme which acts to add a 15''S''-hydroxyl residue to the lipoxin precursor, arachidonic acid, whereas synthesis of the epi-lipoxins involves

aspirin Aspirin () is the genericized trademark for acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used to reduce pain, fever, and inflammation, and as an antithrombotic. Specific inflammatory conditions that aspirin is ...

-pretreated cyclooxygenase 2 or a

cytochrome P450 Cytochromes P450 (P450s or CYPs) are a Protein superfamily, superfamily of enzymes containing heme as a cofactor (biochemistry), cofactor that mostly, but not exclusively, function as monooxygenases. However, they are not omnipresent; for examp ...

enzyme which adds a 15''R''-hydroxyl residue to arachidonic acid. In acknowledgement of the role played by aspirin-treated cyclooxygenase 2 in forming these products, the epi-lipoxins are sometimes termed ATL which stands for Aspirin-Triggered Lipoxins. The counter-regulatory role of the epi-lipoxins in serving as ''stop'' signals for diverse

inflammation Inflammation (from ) is part of the biological response of body tissues to harmful stimuli, such as pathogens, damaged cells, or irritants. The five cardinal signs are heat, pain, redness, swelling, and loss of function (Latin ''calor'', '' ...

responses is detailed at the

site.

References

Eicosanoids {{biochem-stub

See also

References