Conversion of 15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid to 11-hydroxyhexadecatrienoic acid by endothelial cells.

Cultured endothelial cells take up 15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (15-HETE), a lipoxygenase product formed from arachidonic acid, and incorporate it into cellular phospholipids and glycerides. Uptake can occur from either the apical or basolateral surface. A substantial amount of the 15-HETE incorporated into phospholipids is present in the inositol phosphoglycerides. 15-HETE is converted into several metabolic products that accumulate in teh extracellular fluid; this conversion does not require stimulation by agonists. The main product has been identified as 11-hydroxyhexadecatrienoic acid [16:3(11-OH)], a metabolite of 15-HETE that has not been described previously. Formation of 16:3(11-OH) decreases when 4-pentenoic acid is present, suggesting that it is produced by beta-oxidation. The endothelial cells can take up 16:3(11-OH) only 25% as effectively as 15-HETE, and 16:3(11-OH) is almost entirely excluded from the inositol phosphoglycerides. These results suggest that the endothelial cells can incorporate 15-HETE when it is released into their environment. Through partial oxidation, the endothelium can process 15-HETE to a novel metabolite that is less effectively taken up and, in particular, is excluded from the inositol phosphoglycerides.

Formation of 8-hydroxyhexadecatrienoic acid by vascular smooth muscle cells.

Smooth muscle cells derived from the human umbilical vein produce four radioactive metabolites when they are incubated in culture with [3H]-12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid. This conversion does not require the addition of an agonist for eicosanoid formation. The main product, which accounts for 60% of the radioactivity converted to these metabolites, has been identified as 8-hydroxyhexadecatrienoic acid.

Biosynthesis of 3-hydroxy fatty acids, the pheromone components of female mallard ducks, by cell-free preparations from the uropygial gland.

Diesters of 3-hydroxy C8, C10, and C12 acids, the female mallard duck pheromones, were found as the major products of the uropygial glands only during the breeding season. The 3-hydroxy acids were identified by mass spectrometry of the trimethylsilyl ethers of the methyl esters and of the diols derived from LiAlH4 reduction of the hydroxy acids. A cell-free extract from the gland catalyzed conversion of dodecanoic acid to 3-hydroxydodecanoic acid which was identified by radio thin-layer and radio gas chromatographic analysis of the enzymic products as methyl-3-acetoxydodecanoate and as diacetate of the diol generated by LiAlH4 reduction of the enzymic product. The enzymic introduction of the hydroxyl group at C-3 was catalyzed mainly by a 50,000g pellet prepared from a 1000g supernatant obtained from the cell-free extract. This reaction required ATP, CoA, and O2, and the CoA ester of the acid was more efficiently converted than the free acid to the 3-hydroxy acid. KCN at 1 mM and 50% CO did not inhibit the reaction. 3H from 3H2O was incorporated into 3-hydroxydodecanoic acid during the enzymic synthesis of this acid from dodecanoic acid. Mass spectrometry of the 3-hydroxy acid generated by the particulate fraction in the presence of H2 18O showed that 18O was incorporated as expected from hydration of a delta 2 double bond. From the above results it is tentatively concluded that peroxisomal acyl-CoA oxidase converts the acyl-CoA to the 2-enoyl-CoA which is hydrated to generate the 3-hydroxy acid.

Biosynthesis of prostaglandins and hydroxy fatty acids in primary squamous carcinomas of head and neck in humans.

The metabolism of [14C]arachidonic acid into cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase products by homogenates of primary squamous carcinomas of head and neck in 12 patients was studied in vitro. The lipoxygenase pathway was predominant in all samples. The major metabolites were 12-hydroxy-5,8,11-14-eicosatetraenoic acid, (12-HETE) and 15-HETE. 5-HETE, 5,12-diHETE, 8-HETE and 9-HETE were also detected. The cyclooxygenase products detected were in the following order: PGE2 greater than PGF2 alpha greater than TxB2 greater than 15-keto-PGE2 greater than 6-keto-PGF1 alpha greater than PGD2. Literature review of the biological activities of these oxygenated metabolites of arachidonic acid suggest important modulatory roles in the pathophysiology of head and neck cancer.

Synthesis of two hydroxy fatty acids from 7,10,13,16,19-docosapentaenoic acid by human platelets.

Platelets metabolize 7,10,13,16,19-docosapentaenoic acid (22:5(n-3] into 11-hydroxy-7,9,13,16,19- and 14-hydroxy-7,10,12,16,19-docosapentaenoic acid via an indomethacin-insensitive pathway. Time-dependent studies with 20 microM substrate show a lag in the synthesis of both the 11- and 14-isomers which was not observed for the synthesis of thromboxane B2 (TXB2), 5,8,10-heptadecatrienoic acid, and 12-hydroxy-5,8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic acid (12-HETE) from arachidonic acid. When platelets were incubated with increasing concentrations of 22:5(n-3), the 11- and 14-isomers were not produced until the substrate concentration exceeded 5 microM unless arachidonic acid was also added to the incubations. The stimulatory effect of arachidonic acid was not blocked by indomethacin thus suggesting that 12-hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acid or 12-HETE derived from arachidonic acid may activate the platelet lipoxygenase(s) which metabolize 22:5(n-3). Incubations containing 20 microM 22:5(n-3) and increasing levels of [1-14C]arachidonic acid show that the (n-3) acid inhibits the synthesis of both 5,8,10-heptadecatrienoic acid and TXB2 from arachidonic acid. At the same time, 12-HETE synthesis increased due to substrate shunting to the lipoxygenase pathway.

Frequency-pulsed electron capture gas-liquid chromatographic analysis of metabolites produced by Clostridium difficile in broth enriched with amino acids.

Clostridium difficile strain CDC A-567 was cultured in Trypticase (BBL Microbiology Systems)-yeast-salt broth supplemented with 0.2% L-leucine, L-norleucine, L-isoleucine, L-tyrosine, or L-tryptophan. Four extractions were done on the spent medium, three at pH 2 and one at pH 10, using CHCL3 or ether. Derivatizations were done with trichloroethanol, heptafluorobutyric anhydride, and heptafluorobutyric anhydride-ethanol. All samples were analyzed with frequency-pulsed electron capture gas-liquid chromatography. A dedicated computer was used to assist in data analysis. C. difficile produced both short-chain and aromatic acids in Trypticase-yeast-salt broth; hydroxy acids were also detected. p-Cresol, indoleacetic acid, 4-methylthio-2-hydroxybutyric acid, and some unidentified alcohols were observed. The basic chloroform extraction contained cadaverine and putrescine. Leucine, norleucine, and isoleucine influenced the production of C5 and C6 acids and alcohols. L-Tyrosine underwent successive degradation to produce p-cresol and aromatic acids as final products. Tryptophan increased the production of indoleacetic, indolepropionic, and indolebutyric acids. Isocaproic acid was produced in relatively high concentrations regardless of medium substitution. The consistent production of iC6 under various substrate conditions indicates that the production of this compound might be consistent enough in vitro to form the basis of a rapid test for detection of C. difficile in stool specimens by frequency-pulsed electron capture gas-liquid chromatography.

On the formation of alpha-hydroxy fatty acids. Evidence for a direct hydroxylation of nonhydroxy fatty acid-containing sphingolipids.

When Tetrahymena pyriformis, strain NT-1, was warmed from a growth temperature of 15 degrees C to 39 degrees C, there was a rapid conversion of its sphingolipids from the nonhydroxy fatty acid-containing ceramide aminoethylphosphonate (NCAEP) predominant at low temperature to the alpha-hydroxy fatty acid-containing analog (HCAEP). The fatty acid composition of the freshly formed HCAEP strongly resembled that of the original NCAEP pool. An extensive utilization of NCAEP long chain bases for HCAEP formation was shown by prelabeling the NCAEP bases with [14C]serine. The specific radioactivities of both fatty acids and long chain bases of the two sphingolipid classes of cells prelabeled with [3H]palmitic acid at 15 degrees C and then warmed to 39 degrees C were compatible with a direct hydroxylation of the intact ceramide aminoethylphosphonate or free ceramide formed from it. Exogenously added alpha-hydroxypalmitic acid was not incorporated into the sphingolipids intact, but there was an active alpha-oxidation of alpha-hydroxy fatty acids, yielding nonhydroxy fatty acids one carbon atom shorter in length. In vitro experiments failed to demonstrate a direct hydroxylation of NCAEP, and nonhydroxy fatty acid-containing free ceramides were hydroxylated only sparingly. This inefficient hydroxylation is attributed to the rapid enzymatic hydrolysis of these substrates in vitro and to a limited availability of the added ceramides to the hydroxylating enzymes. The weight of the evidence from this study strongly favors the alpha-hydroxylation of fatty acids only when they are bound as elements of sphingolipids.

Synthesis of hydroxy fatty acids from 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19-[1-14C] docosahexaenoic acid by human platelets.

Human platelets incubated in the presence of 54 microM [1-14C]22:6 produced hydroxydocosahexaenoic acid (HDHE) at about half the rate with which 12-hydroxy-5,8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic acid is produced from [1-14C]arachidonic acid. More than 90% of the radioactivity in HDHE was distributed among two major isomers, 14-HDHE and 11-HDHE. The production of HDHEs was unaffected by indomethacin but completely inhibited by 5,8,11,14-heneicosatetraynoic acid, which suggests that the hydroxy fatty acids are produced by lipoxygenase. The proportions of HDHE isomers varied with the concentration of 22:6. The ratio 14-HDHE/11-HDHE was higher at 6.8 microM 22:6 than when platelets were incubated with 54 microM 22:6. It is suggested that the amounts of these isomers produced will depend both on the availability of 22:6 as well as by competition of this acid with other acids for lipoxygenase.

beta-Hydroxy fatty acid production by ischemic rabbit heart.

beta-Hydroxymyristate, -palmitate, and -stearate were produced by and accumulated in isolated rabbit heart when perfused ischemically for 2-10 min by the nonrecirculating langendorff technique with 0.75 mM palmitate and 0.16 mM albumin. Tissue fractionation into mitochondria and cytosol showed that by 2 min of ischemia 44% of beta-hydroxypalmitate and 38% beta-hydroxystearate was located in the cytosol; this percentage increased to greater than 50% by 5 min of ischemia. Lipid fractionation studies showed that by 10 min these two beta-hydroxy fatty acids were distributed approximately as 60% acylcarnitine, 20% acyl-coenzyme A (CoA), and 20% free fatty acids. All three chemical forms of beta-hydroxypalmitate were found in both the mitochondria and the cytosol. After 10 min of ischemia beta-hydroxypalmitoyl-CoA and beta-hydroxystearoyl-CoA constituted at least 16% of the incremental long-chain acyl-CoA, whereas beta-hydroxypalmitoylcarnitine and b-hydroxystearoylcarnitine constituted 8% of the incremental long-chain acylcarnitine. These data suggests that myocardial beta-hydroxyacyl-CoA oxidation is limited during ischemia. Substrate accumulates and is transferred to the cytosol where it accumulates primarily as beta-hydroxyacylcarnitine.

Purification of thromboxane synthetase and evidence of two distinct mechanisms for the formation of 12-L-hydroxy-5,8,10-heptadecatrienoic acid by porcine lung microsomes.

Synthesis of thromboxane B2 and 12-L-hydroxy-5,8,10-heptadecatrienoic acid by crude microsomes and by partially purified thromboxane synthetase from porcine lung has been studied. Formation of both compounds catalyzed by the purified enzyme is inhibited similarly by imidazole or increased temperature (52 degrees C). However, during the initial stages of purification only the production of thromboxane B2 was diminished by imidazole or increased temperature, indicating the presence of an additional mechanism for the formation of 12-L-hydroxy-5,8,10-heptadecatrienoic acid. This novel mechanism is attributed to the effect of nondialyzable heat-stable factor(s) present in the crude preparation which stimulates the formation of 12-L-hydroxy-5,8,10-heptadecatrienoic acid from prostaglandin H2 in a time-dependent manner.

Dihydroxy and monohydroxy fatty acids in Legionella pneumophila.

Five strains of Legionella pneumophila were examined for the presence of hydroxy fatty acid. The cellular distribution of the fatty acids was also determined, as was the variation of hydroxy acid production on five growth media. The strains tested all produced approximately 5 mol% of hydroxy fatty acid, most of which was found in the nonextractable, alkali-stable, acid-labile (wall-associated, amide-linked) fraction. Three major hydroxy acids were found, along with several minor components. The major hydroxy acids were analyzed by thin-layer chromatography, gas-liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry, and infrared spectrophotometry. These compounds were tentatively identified as 3-hydroxy-12-methyltridecanoate, 3-hydroxy-n-eicosanoate, and a novel dihydroxy acid, 2,3-dihydroxy-12-methyltridecanoate. The total amount of hydroxy acid produced, as well as the profile of the hydroxy acids, remained relatively unchanged with respect to strain and growth medium.

Formation of omega- and (omega-1)-hydroxyfatty acids and plausible formation of ketofatty acid from microsomal phospholipids.

Rat liver microsomes labeled with spin-labeled phosphatidylcholine release the label into the aqueous phase during the aerobic incubation with NADPH (Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. (1979) 87, 300-307). To establish the chemical nature of the released moiety, microsomes were labeled with [14C]phosphatidylcholine. When the 14C-labeled microsomes were incubated with NADPH under aerobic conditions, a few percent of the radioactivity was liberated into the aqueous phase within 60 min. Thin-layer chromatographic analysis of the radioactive substance liberated showed the presence of hydroxylated fatty acids derived from the 2-position of glycerol moiety. About one-third of the fatty acids formed from [14C]phosphatidylcholine during the incubation were converted into hydroxy-derivatives. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis further confirmed an NADPH-dependent formation of 16-hydroxypalmitic acid, 15-hydroxypalmitic acid, and hydroxy-derivatives of other fatty acids from the phospholipids of the microsomal membrane. Evidence was also obtained indicating the formation of ketopalmitic acid.

The production of 5-HETE and leukotriene B in rat neutrophils from carrageenan pleural exudates.

Rat neutrophils isolated from three-hour carrageenan pleural exudates actively metabolize arachidonic acid into three major metabolites, HHT, 11-HETE and 15-HETE. However, in the presence of the calcium ionophore, A23187, or the non-ionic detergent, BRIJ 56, these cells also produce 5-HETE and LTB. The production of these lipoxygenase products is calcium dependent. While non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs do not affect 5-HETE or LTB production, BW 755C and ETYA inhibit formation of these metabolites from exogenously added arachidonic acid.

Prostaglandin thromboxane, and 12-hydroxy-5,8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic acid production by ionophore-stimulated rat serosal mast cells.

Production of several metabolites of arachidonic acid by purified rat serosal mast cells in response to stimulation with the ionophore A23187 was assessed by stable isotope dilution assay using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Compounds quantified were prostaglandins D2, E2, F2 alpha, 6-keto-F1 alpha, thromboxane B2, and 12-hydroxy-5,8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic acid. Mast cells incubated at 37 degrees C for 30 min without ionophore produced measurable quantities of all metabolites assayed. 4 microM A23187 resulted in substantial increased synthesis of all metabolites compared to control cells. Of the metabolites quantified, prostaglandin D2 and prostacyclin were the major products derived from arachidonic acid in ionophore-stimulated rat mast cells.