Effect of L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester on leukotriene biosynthesis in macrophage cells.

Macrophage cells treated with L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester (aspartame) produced leukotrienes and other arachidonic acid metabolites. Leukotriene C4, leukotriene B4, and 15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid were the major metabolites detected. The aspartame-treated macrophage cell cultures produced three times as much arachidonic acid metabolites as did the untreated control cell cultures. Leukotriene C4 was produced in the largest amount by the aspartame-treated cells.