COMMENTARY ON THE LAW

Leukotrienes – mediators of inflammation

Grzegorz Woszczek , Rafał Pawliczak , Marek Kowalski

Published: 2003-09-15

GICID: 01.3001.0000.3559

Available language versions: en

Issue: Postepy Hig Med Dosw 2003; 57 (5)

Abstract

Leukotrienes are biologically active metabolites derived from arachidonic acid playing an important role in inflammatory responses. There are two main groups of leukotrienes: dihydroxy-leukotrienes (LTB4) and cysteinyl-leukotrienes (LTC4, LTD4, LTE4). By activating specific G-protein coupled receptors, leukotrienes take part in immune responses, like activation and chemotaxis of leukocytes. Several studies have shown that leukotrienes may play a significant role in pathomechanisms of inflammatory diseases of human airways, skin, digestive tract and heart