Lipoxygenase activity of intact human platelets.

The oxygenation by lipoxygenase of different icosaenoic and docosaenoic acids by intact human platelets was studied. The HPLC analysis of the hydroxy compound (s) derived from icosaenoic acids showed that the 12-derivatives predominate. The increase of the fatty acid concentration markedly enhanced their oxygenation except for icosapentaenoic acid. The conversion of this acid into its hydroxy derivative rose in the presence of arachidonic acid, probably through both its cyclo-oxygenase and lipoxygenase product formation. Since 12-hydroxy-icosaenoic acids are modulators of PGH2-induced platelet aggregation, we conclude that the interactions between polyunsaturated fatty acids during their oxygenation by platelet lipoxygenase could be relevant to the regulating activity of dietary fatty acids.