Targeted Disruption of the Leukotriene B4Receptor in Mice Reveals Its Role in Inflammation and Platelet-Activating Factor–Induced Anaphylaxis

B Haribabu, MW Verghese, DA Steeber… - The Journal of …, 2000 - rupress.org
B Haribabu, MW Verghese, DA Steeber, DD Sellars, CB Bock, R Snyderman
The Journal of experimental medicine, 2000rupress.org
Leukotrienes are derived from arachidonic acid and serve as mediators of inflammation and
immediate hypersensitivity. Leukotriene B4 (LTB4) and leukotriene C4 (LTC4) act through G
protein–coupled receptors LTB4 receptor (BLTR) and Cys-LTR, respectively. To investigate
the physiological role of BLTR, we produced mice with a targeted disruption of the BLTR
gene. Mice deficient for BLTR (BLTR−/−) developed normally and had no apparent
hematopoietic abnormalities. Peritoneal neutrophils from BLTR−/− mice displayed normal …
Leukotrienes are derived from arachidonic acid and serve as mediators of inflammation and immediate hypersensitivity. Leukotriene B4 (LTB4) and leukotriene C4 (LTC4) act through G protein–coupled receptors LTB4 receptor (BLTR) and Cys-LTR, respectively. To investigate the physiological role of BLTR, we produced mice with a targeted disruption of the BLTR gene. Mice deficient for BLTR (BLTR−/−) developed normally and had no apparent hematopoietic abnormalities. Peritoneal neutrophils from BLTR−/− mice displayed normal responses to the inflammatory mediators C5a and platelet-activating factor (PAF) but did not respond to LTB4 for calcium mobilization or chemotaxis. Additionally, LTB4 elicited peritoneal neutrophil influx in control but not in BLTR−/− mice. Thus, BLTR is the sole receptor for LTB4-induced inflammation in mice. Neutrophil influx in a peritonitis model and acute ear inflammation in response to arachidonic acid was significantly reduced in BLTR−/− mice. In mice, intravenous administration of PAF induces immediate lethal anaphylaxis. Surprisingly, female BLTR−/− mice displayed selective survival (6 of 9; P = 0.002) relative to male (1 of 11) mice of PAF-induced anaphylaxis. These results demonstrate the role of BLTR in leukotriene-mediated acute inflammation and an unexpected sex-related involvement in PAF-induced anaphylaxis.
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