Pharmacotherapy of diseases mediated by 5-lipoxygenase pathway eicosanoids

Inflammatory eicosanoids generated by the 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) pathway of arachidonic acid metabolism are now known to have at least 6 receptors: OXE, which recognizes 5-HETE and 5-oxo-ETE; a putative receptor recognizing a potent 5-oxo-ETE metabolite, FOG7; the LTB4 receptors, BLT1 and BLT2; the cysteinyl leukotriene receptors, CysLT1 and CysLT2, which recognize leukotrienes LTC4, LTD4, LTE4 and LTF4. The 5-LO pathway is activated in many diseases and invokes inflammatory responses not affected by glucocorticoids, but therapy with selective BLT1 or CysLT1 antagonists in asthma has met with variable success. Studies show that 5-LO pathway eicosanoids are not primary mediators in all cases of asthma, but may be especially important in severe persistent asthma, aspirin- and exercise-induced asthma, allergic rhinitis, COPD, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, atherosclerosis, atopic dermatitis, acne and ischemia-related organ injury. These disorders appear to involve multiple 5-LO pathway eicosanoids and receptor subtypes, suggesting that inhibition of the pathway at the level of 5-LO may be necessary for maximal efficacy.