ABSTRACT
Eicosanoids are involved in a number of physiological and pathological responses in a human body. They are involved in a number of pathways including allergy and inflammation, reproduction, endocrine system, respiratory system, and central and peripheral nervous system. A number of studies have been conducted in deciphering the importance of eicosanoid biology in human body. The biochemical and molecular biosynthetic pathways of eicosanoids provide a thorough understanding of the role of eicosanoids in therapeutic functions. There are three major pathways within the arachidonic cascade, which metabolizes arachidonic acid to form the eicosanoids. These pathways include: the cyclooxygenase, lipoxygenase, and epoxygenase pathways. There are various subfamilies of eicosanoids. These include: prostanoids, the leukotrienes and hydroxyeicosa-tetraenoic acid, and epoxye-icosatrienoic acid. Prostanoids work through G-protein-coupled prostanoid receptors. Thromboxane A2 receptor receptors can be found in platelets, lung, vascular smooth muscle, endothelial cells, kidney, brain, spleen, thymus, monocytes, uterus, and placenta.
