Effects of protein deficiency on the metabolism of arachidonic acid by rat pleural polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

The effects of protein deficiency on the biosynthesis of metabolites of arachidonic acid by rat pleural polymorphonuclear leukocytes stimulated with calcium ionophore were investigated. The major products of metabolism by lipoxygenase in these cells were leukotriene B4 and 5-hydroxy-6,8,11,14-eicosatetraenoic acid, whereas the major cyclooxygenase products were thromboxane B2 and 12-hydroxy-5,8,10-heptadecatrienoic acid. At high substrate concentrations (100 microM), the formation of all products by polymorphonuclear leukocytes was lower for protein-deficient rats than for controls. Similar results were obtained when products synthesized from endogenous substrate were measured, except that there was no change in the amount of 5-hydroxy-6,8,11,14-eicosatetraenoic acid formed. The biosynthesis of prostaglandins E2 and F2 alpha by homogenates of rat kidney medulla was reduced as a result of protein deficiency. Acetylsalicylic acid inhibited the formation of cyclooxygenase products and stimulated the formation of lipoxygenase products by polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Protein deficiency did not alter the effects of acetylsalicylic acid on the biosynthesis of these products, although at any given concentration the amounts of products formed were less with protein-deficient rats than with rats fed control diets.