Identification and subcellular localization of leukotriene A4-hydrolase activity in human epidermis

The purpose of this study was to determine whether normal human epidermis could produce leukotriene B4 (LTB4) from leukotriene A4 (LTA4) ex vivo, and to localize this LTA4-hydrolase activity. Epidermis obtained by suction blister technique incubated with human polymorphonuclear cells, resulted in a 54% increase in LTB4 formation when compared to polymorphonuclear cells incubated alone. Furthermore, human epidermis transformed exogenous LTA4 into LTB4, and this reaction obeyed Michaelis-Menten kinetics with an apparent Km of 6 microM. Subcellular fractionation of homogenized epidermis localized the LTA4-hydrolase activity mainly in the 105,000 x g supernatant fraction (cytoplasmic fraction). This activity was inhibited by two inhibitors of LTA4-hydrolase (bestatin and captopril). Western blot analysis of the 105,000 x g fraction of homogenized epidermis and cultured keratinocytes supported the presence of a LTA4-hydrolase. Thus, normal human epidermis possesses LTA4-hydrolase activity which can transform exogenous LTA4 and polymorphonuclear cell-derived LTA4 into LTB4. The identification of LTA4-hydrolase in the cytoplasmic fraction of human epidermis indicates that epidermal cells may play a more active role in the enzymatic process leading to formation of the proinflammatory compound LTB4 than previously expected.