Preferential formation of 13-hydroxylinoleic acid by human peripheral blood eosinophils

Lipid mediators released by inflammatory and immune cells play an important role in inflammatory and immune processes. Most attention has been focussed on arachidonic-derived mediators, including prostaglandins, thromboxanes, leukotrienes, and lipoxins. Literature data, however, suggest that also metabolites of the unsaturated fatty acid linoleic acid may be important in this respect. We have studied the formation and release of 9-hydroxy- and 13-hydroxy-linoleic acid (9-HODE and 13-HODE) by enriched populations of human peripheral blood neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, monocytes, and lymphocytes. We demonstrate that the eosinophil preferentially produces 13-HODE, whereas the other cell types produce equal amounts of 9-HODE and 13-HODE. The biological significance of these findings is discussed.