ABSTRACT
I. Biochemistry and Function of Prostanoids and Leukotrienes ....................149 A. Cyclooxygenase Pathway...................................................................149 B. Lipoxygenase Pathway.......................................................................152
II. The Role of Prostanoids and Leukotrienes in Airway Diseases.................154 A. Eicosanoids and Asthma ....................................................................154 B. Eicosanoids and Other Inflammatory Airway Disorders...................155 C. Role of Prostanoids in Airway Disorders ..........................................156 D. Role of Leukotrienes in Inflammatory Airway Disorders .................158
III. Conclusions ..................................................................................................158 Further Reading .....................................................................................................159
Prostanoids and leukotrienes belong to a large family of metabolites of arachidonic acid (AA) collectively known as eicosanoids. AA is a 20-carbon polyunsaturated fatty acid esterified in cell membrane phospholipids that is hydrolyzed upon cell activation by the phospholipases.
