An alternative pathway for metabolism of leukotriene D(4): effects on contractions to cysteinyl-leukotrienes in the guinea-pig trachea.

Contractions of guinea-pig tracheal preparations to cysteinyl-leukotrienes (LTC(4), LTD(4) and LTE(4)) were characterized in organ baths, and cysteinyl-leukotriene metabolism was studied using radiolabelled agonists and RP-HPLC separation. In the presence of S-hexyl GSH (100 microM) the metabolism of [(3)H]-LTC(4) into [(3)H]-LTD(4) was inhibited and the LTC(4)-induced contractions were resistant to CysLT(1) receptor antagonism but inhibited by the dual CysLT(1)/CysLT(2) receptor antagonist BAY u9773 (0.3 - 3 microM) with a pA(2)-value of 6.8+/-0.2. In the presence of L-cysteine (5 mM), the metabolism of [(3)H]-LTD(4) into [(3)H]-LTE(4) was inhibited and the LTD(4)-induced contractions were inhibited by the CysLT(1) receptor antagonist ICI 198,615 (1 - 10 nM) with a pA(2)-value of 9.3+/-0.2. However, at higher concentrations of ICI 198,615 (30 - 300 nM) a residual contraction to LTD(4) was unmasked, and this response was inhibited by BAY u9773 (1 - 3 microM). In the presence of the combination of S-hexyl GSH with L-cysteine, the LTD(4)-induced contractions displayed the characteristics of the LTC(4) contractile responses, i.e. resistant to CysLT(1) receptor antagonism, increased maximal contractions and slower time-course. This qualitative change of the LTD(4)-induced contraction was also observed in the presence of S-decyl GSH (100 microM), GSH (10 mM) and GSSG (10 mM). S-hexyl GSH, S-decyl GSH, GSH and GSSG all stimulated a formation of [(3)H]-LTC(4) from [(3)H]-LTD(4). In conclusion, GSH and GSH-related compounds changed the pharmacology of the LTD(4)-induced contractions by stimulating the conversion of LTD(4) into LTC(4). Moreover, the results indicate that, in addition to the metabolism of LTC(4) into LTD(4) and LTE(4), also the formation of LTC(4) from LTD(4) may regulate cysteinyl-leukotriene function.