12-Hydroxyheptadecatrienoic acid promotes epidermal wound healing by accelerating keratinocyte migration via the BLT2 receptor.

Leukotriene B4 (LTB4) receptor type 2 (BLT2) is a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) for 12(S)-hydroxyheptadeca-5Z,8E,10E-trienoic acid (12-HHT) and LTB4. Despite the well-defined proinflammatory roles of BLT1, the in vivo functions of BLT2 remain elusive. As mouse BLT2 is highly expressed in epidermal keratinocytes, we investigated the role of the 12-HHT/BLT2 axis in skin wound healing processes. 12-HHT accumulated in the wound fluid in mice, and BLT2-deficient mice exhibited impaired re-epithelialization and delayed wound closure after skin punching. Aspirin administration reduced 12-HHT production and resulted in delayed wound closure in wild-type mice, which was abrogated in BLT2-deficient mice. In vitro scratch assay using primary keratinocytes and a keratinocyte cell line also showed that the 12-HHT/BLT2 axis accelerated wound closure through the production of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). A synthetic BLT2 agonist accelerated wound closure in cultured cells as well as in C57BL/6J and diabetic mice. These results identify a novel mechanism underlying the action of the 12-HHT/BLT2 axis in epidermal keratinocytes and accordingly suggest the use of BLT2 agonists as therapeutic agents to accelerate wound healing, particularly for intractable wounds, such as diabetic ulcers.

Liu M ，Saeki K ，Matsunobu T ，Okuno T ，Koga T ，Sugimoto Y ，Yokoyama C ，Nakamizo S ，Kabashima K ，Narumiya S ，Shimizu T ，Yokomizo T ... -  《-》

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug delays corneal wound healing by reducing production of 12-hydroxyheptadecatrienoic acid, a ligand for leukotriene B(4) receptor 2.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are widely used to reduce inflammation by suppressing cyclooxygenases (COXs). NSAID eye drops are frequently prescribed after ocular surgery to reduce inflammation and pain, but this treatment has clinically significant side effects, including corneal ulcer and perforation. The molecular mechanisms underlying these side effects remain unknown. Recently, the COX product 12(S)-hydroxyheptadeca-5Z,8E,10E-trienoic acid (12-HHT) was identified as an endogenous ligand for leukotriene B receptor 2 (BLT2), which is important in maintenance of epithelial homeostasis. We hypothesized that NSAID-dependent corneal damage is caused by reduced production of 12-HHT. Diclofenac eye drops decreased the abundance of downstream products of COX and delayed corneal wound healing in BALB/c mice. Expression of BLT2 was observed in murine ocular tissues including cornea, and in human corneal epithelial cell line and human primary corneal epithelial cells. In BLT2-knockout mice, corneal wound healing was delayed, but the diclofenac-dependent delay in corneal wound healing disappeared. 12-HHT accelerated wound closure both in BLT2-transfected corneal cell line and human primary corneal epithelial cells. Thus, our results reveal that NSAIDs delay corneal wound healing by inhibiting 12-HHT production, and suggest that stimulation of the 12-HHT/BLT2 axis represents a novel therapeutic approach to corneal wound healing.

Iwamoto S ，Koga T ，Ohba M ，Okuno T ，Koike M ，Murakami A ，Matsuda A ，Yokomizo T ... -  《Scientific Reports》

The leukotriene B4 receptor BLT2 protects barrier function via actin polymerization with phosphorylation of myosin phosphatase target subunit 1 in human keratinocytes.

Leukotriene B4 (LTB4 ) receptor type 2 (BLT2) is a novel G-protein-coupled receptor, which selectively binds to 12(S)-hydroxyheptadeca-5Z,8E,10E-trienoic acid (12-HHT) with stronger affinity than to LTB4 . Recently, 12-HHT has been shown to have a protective effect on the epidermal barrier in human keratinocytes or transfectant cells overexpressing BLT2. Because the protective activity of BLT2 in high-calcium conditions, which occurs in well-differentiated cells, is exerted through increasing the integrity of tight junctions, we investigated the effects of 12-HHT on the barrier function of human keratinocytes in low-calcium conditions that mimic the basal layer; to our knowledge, this has not been reported previously. After stimulation with or without 12-HHT, barrier function was measured using transepithelial electrical resistance (TER) and dextran permeability assay. Expression levels of adhesion molecules and actin polymerization were also evaluated. Treatment with 12-HHT increased TER, along with decreased epidermal permeability of dextran in human keratinocytes. Furthermore, 12-HHT induced actin polymerization with phosphorylation of myosin phosphatase target subunit 1. These results suggest that the ligation of BLT2 protects permeability barrier function by enhancing cell-cell contact, even under low-calcium conditions, and indicate that a BLT2 agonist could be a novel therapeutic target for barrier-disrupted skin diseases.

Chiba T ，Nakahara T ，Hashimoto-Hachiya A ，Yokomizo T ，Uchi H ，Furue M ... -  《-》

Two distinct leukotriene B4 receptors, BLT1 and BLT2.

Leukotriene B4 (LTB4) is a potent inflammatory mediator derived from arachidonic acid. Two G protein-coupled receptors for LTB4 have been identified: a high-affinity receptor, BLT1, and a low-affinity receptor, BLT2. Both receptors mainly couple to pertussis toxin-sensitive Gi-like G proteins and induce cell migration. 12(S)-hydroxy-5Z,8E,10E-heptadecatrienoic acid (12-HHT) was identified to bind BLT2 with higher affinity than LTB4. Expression of BLT1 was confirmed in type 1 helper T cells, type 2 helper T cells, type 17 helper T cells, effector CD8(+) T cells, dendritic cells and osteoclasts in addition to granulocytes, eosinophils and macrophages, and BLT1-deficient mice showed greatly reduced phenotypes in models of various inflammatory diseases, such as peritonitis, bronchial asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, atherosclerosis and osteoporosis. In mice, BLT2 expression is restricted to intestinal epithelial cells and epidermal keratinocytes. BLT2-deficient mice showed enhanced colitis after administration of dextran sulfate, possibly due to reduced intestinal barrier function. An aspirin-dependent reduction in 12-HHT production was responsible for delayed skin wound healing, showing that the 12-HHT/BLT2 axis also plays an important role in skin biology. BLT1 and BLT2 are therefore potential targets for the development of novel drugs.

Yokomizo T 《-》

First Structure-Activity Relationship Study of Potent BLT2 Agonists as Potential Wound-Healing Promoters.

The first potent leukotriene B4 (LTB4) receptor type 2 (BLT2) agonists, endogenous 12()-hydroxyheptadeca-5,8,10-trienoic acid (12-HHT), and synthetic CAY10583 (CAY) have been recently described to accelerate wound healing by enhanced keratinocyte migration and indirect stimulation of fibroblast activity in diabetic rats. CAY represents a very valuable starting point for the development of novel wound-healing promoters. In this work, the first structure-activity relationship study for CAY scaffold-based BLT2 agonists is presented. The newly prepared derivatives showed promising wound-healing activity.

Hernandez-Olmos V ，Heering J ，Planz V ，Liu T ，Kaps A ，Rajkumar R ，Gramzow M ，Kaiser A ，Schubert-Zsilavecz M ，Parnham MJ ，Windbergs M ，Steinhilber D ，Proschak E ... -  《-》