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Updated: Jun 9, 2026

Real-time Imaging of Leukotriene B4 Mediated Cell Migration and BLT1 Interactions with β-arrestin
Published on: December 23, 2010
A critical role for LTA4H in limiting chronic pulmonary neutrophilic inflammation
Robert J Snelgrove1, Patricia L Jackson, Matthew T Hardison
1Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham Lung Health Center, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA. rjs198@imperial.ac.uk
Abstract:
Leukotriene A(4) hydrolase (LTA(4)H) is a proinflammatory enzyme that generates the inflammatory mediator leukotriene B(4) (LTB(4)). LTA(4)H also possesses aminopeptidase activity with unknown substrate and physiological importance; we identified the neutrophil chemoattractant proline-glycine-proline (PGP) as this physiological substrate. PGP is a biomarker for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and is implicated in neutrophil persistence in the lung. In acute neutrophil-driven inflammation, PGP was degraded by LTA(4)H, which facilitated the resolution of inflammation. In contrast, cigarette smoke, a major risk factor for the development of COPD, selectively inhibited LTA(4)H aminopeptidase activity, which led to the accumulation of PGP and neutrophils. These studies imply that therapeutic strategies inhibiting LTA(4)H to prevent LTB(4) generation may not reduce neutrophil recruitment because of elevated levels of PGP.
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