Main description:

The field of eicosanoid metabolism and function continues to grow. Synthesis of the prostaglandins from essential fatty acids was first described by Bergstrom and Sarnuelsson in 1964. The thromboxanes were discovered in 1975, the prostacyclins, by Moncada and Vane, in 1976, and the leukotrienes by Samuelsson in 1979. A new class of biologically active arachidonic acid metabolites named lipoxins was announced by Bengt Samuelsson in May 1984. Since that time major advances have been made in the molecular biology of the eicosanoids including the cloning of prostaglandin synthases and 5, 12, and 15-lipoxygenases from several different species, including man. This volume, Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes, Lipoxins, and P AF: Their Mechanism of Action, Molecular Biology, and Clinical Applications contains most of the papers presented in the plenary sessions of the Xlth International Washington Spring Symposium on Health Sciences. The book is divided into six parts, each covering a different aspect of this rapidly expanding field, and contains a total of 42 chapters by an internationally recognized group of authors in each area.
Part I contains 11 chapters and covers the molecular biology and enzymology of prostaglandins and leukotrienes. Chapter 1 by the Editor details new mechanisms for the antiinflammatory glucocorticoids involving translational control of the messenger RNA for prostaglandin synthase. Chapter 2 by Yamamoto describes the molecular evolution of two distinct mammalian 12-lipoxygenases.

Contents:

Molecular Biology and Enzymology of Prostaglandins and Leukotrienes: Translational Control of Prostaglandin Synthase by Growth Factors and Glucocorticoids; J.M. Bailey. Two Types of Arachidonate 12-Lipoxygenase Demonstrated by Enzymological and Molecular Immunological and Molecular Biological Studies; S. Yamamoto, et al. Regulatory Mechanisms in Eicosanoid Release and Metabolism: Annexins and Signal Transduction; R. Morgan, et al. Structural and Functional Properties of Mammalian Group III Cytosolic Phospholipases A2; M. Goppelt-Struebe, et al. Cardiovascular Pulmonary Interactions of Prostaglandins, Prostacyclins and Leukotrienes: Thromboxane A2/Prostaglandin H2 Receptors: A Growing Family of Receptor Subtypes; P.V. Halushka, et al. Variations in Specific Protein Phosphorylation during Modulation of Prostacyclin Secretion in Cultured Bovine Aortic Endothelial Cells; J. Grose, et al. Recent Advances in PAF Metabolism and Function: Novel Neutrophil Agonists: Oxidatively-Fragmented Phosphatidylcholines; P.L. Smiley, et al. Specific BInding of Tritium-Labeled Platelet-Activating Factor to Human Mononuclear Leukocyte membranes: A Third Putative Receptor of Platelet-Activating Factor; S.B. Hwang, et al. 34 additional articles. Index.