Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Radioprotection by leukotrienes: Is there a receptor mechanism. Scientific report

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5728451

Leukotrienes are a class of biological mediators derived from arachidonic acid through the lipoxygenase pathway. Early studies showed that lipophilic factors capable of constricting smooth muscle and inducing anaphylaxis were produced in the guinea pig in response to cobra venom. Leukotrienes have pathological roles in inflammation and anaphylaxis, act as vasoactive agents, as chemotactic factors for neutrophils, and are more potent constrictors of smooth muscle than histamine. The lipoxygenase metabolites of arachidonic acid have not been as extensively characterized in terms of their cytoprotective and radioprotective properties as have the cyclooxygenase metabolites (prostaglandins, thromboxane, and prostacyclin). Research on the radioprotective properties of leukotrienes is limited by the expense and availability of pure compounds, and very little research has been done in this area thus far. Preliminary studies are presented here with the goal of discussing the current understanding of this problem and to introduce future research directions.

Research Organization:
Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Inst., Bethesda, MD (USA)
OSTI ID:
5728451
Report Number(s):
AD-A-207918/4/XAB; AFRRI-SR-89-14
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English