Main description:

The 11th international Conference on ADVANCES IN PROSTAGLANDIN AND LEUKOTRIENE RESEARCH: BASICSCIENCEANDNEWCLlNICALApPLlCA TIONS was held, as in the past, in Florence, Italy, on June 4-8, 2000. A selection of lectures presented at the meeting is included in this volume, which continues the tradition of covering both basic and clinical aspects of prostaglandin and leukotriene research. At this meeting particular emphasis was given to the lipid mediator circuits of lipoxin and leukotrienes and to the expression ofthe COX2 gene. The plenary lectures by C.N. Serhan (Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.) and H.R. Herschman (Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.) were devoted to these areas, while S. Narumiya (Kyoto, Japan) and J.M. Drazen (Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.) presented the latest advances in the fields ofprostanoid receptors and the genetics of asthma. Specific sessions focused on vascular physiopathology, cell differentiation and cancer, and the cardiovascular system. Lipoxygenases were discussed in detail at the molecular and cellular levels and attention was given to signal transduction pathways for leukotrienes and prostanoids. K.F. Austen (Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.) and T.
Izumi (Tokyo, Japan) clarified the role and regulation ofLTC synthase ofleukotriene biosynthesis. Other important sessions 4 described regulation and control of nitric oxide, cannabimimetic eicosanoids, and the roles of eicosanoids in neuroscience. Applied clinical sessions devoted to the respiratory system and inflammation, including cyclooxygenase pathways, concluded the meeting.

Contents:

Preface. List of Contributors.
I: Lipoxygenases and Leukotriene Biosynthesis. 1. Phosphorylation and Activation of 5-Lipoxygenase by P38 Kinase-Activated MAPKAP Kinases; O. Werz, et al. 2. 5-Lipoxygenase and the Nucleus: Where, When, How, and Why?; M. Peters-Golden, T.G. Brock. 3. Calcium Binding Site of 5-Lipoxygenase; T. Hammarberg, et al. 4. Regulation of Cellular 50Lipoxygenase Activity by Glutathione Peroxidases; D. Schumann, et al. 5. Novel Aspects Related to Biosynthesis and Biological Actions of Hepoxilins: Interrelationship with Phospholipid Hydro-Peroxide Glutathione Peroxidase (PHGPx); P. Shankaranarayanan, et al. 6. Transcriptional Regulation of the Human Leukotriene C4 Synthase Promoter; J.-L. Zhao, et al. 7. Localization and Translocation of Enzymes Involved in Leukotriene Biosynthesis; Y. Ide, et al.
II: Cyclooxygenases and Prostaglandin Biosynthesis. 8. Regulation of COX-2 Expression in Fibroblasts, Osteoblasts, Mast Cells, and Macrophages; H.R. Herschman, et al. 9. Antimicroinflammatory Lipid Signals from Vascular Cyclooxygenase-2: A Novel Mechanism for NSAID and N-3 PUFA Therapeutic Actions; C.N. Serhan, et al. 10. Substrate Interactions in the Cyclooxygenase-1 Active Site; E.D. Thuresson, et al. 11. Mutation of the Human Prostacyclin Synthase Gene; T. Nakayama, et al. 12. Structure and Function of Two Distinct Types of Prostaglandin D Synthase; Y. Urade, O. Hayaishi. 13. Roles of Prostaglandin F Synthase; K. Watanabe, et al. 14. Differential Effects of Nitric Oxide on Cyclooxygenase 1 and 2 Activities in Cultured Cells; S.-I. Murota, et al.
III: Phospholipase A2. 15. On the Functional Diversity of Secreted Phospholipases A2: Cloning of Novel Mammalian and HIV-1 Antiviral Properties; G. Lambeau, et al. 16. Regulation of Cytosolic Phospholipase A2 by Phosphorylation; M.H. Gelb, et al.
IV: Cytochrome P450 Archidonate Metabolites. 17. Synthesis and Function of 20-Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic Acid in the Kidney; M.L. Schwartzman, et al.
V: Receptors. 18. Altered Bronchodilation and Pulmonary Inflammation in Prostanoid EP2 Receptor Knockout Mice; F. Nantel, et al. 19. Induction of Prostaglandin I2 Receptor in Murine Osteoblastic Cell; K. Yamamoto, et al. 20. BLT2, a Second Leukotriene B4 Receptor; T. Yokomizo, et al. 21. Upregulation of Cysteinyl-Leukotriene 1 Receptor Expression by Interleukin-5 in Human Leukocytes; M. Rola-Pleszczynski, et al. 22. Physiological and Pathophysiological Roles of Prostanoids; Lessons from Receptor-Knockout Mice for Clinical Applications; S. Narumiya. 23. Multiple G-Protein Coupling of Chimeric Prostacyclin/Prostaglandin D2 Receptors; H. Wise, K.B.S. Chow.
VI: Eicosanoids and Neuroscience. 24. An Unusual Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Activates the 8-Lipoxygenase Pathway in Aplysia Neurons; S.J. Feinmark, et al.
VII: Cardiovascular System. 25. Neutrophil-Endothelial Cell Interaction: A Multidirectional Cross-Talk in Leukotriene Generation; G.C.