Epoxyeicosatrienoic Acid Analog EET-A Blunts Development of Lupus Nephritis in Mice

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disorder that causes life threatening renal disease and current therapies are limited with serious side-effects. CYP epoxygenase metabolites of arachidonic acid epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) demonstrate strong anti-inflammatory and kidney protective actions. We investigated the ability of an orally active EET analog, EET-A to prevent kidney injury in a mouse SLE model. Twenty-weeks old female NZBWF1 (SLE) and age-matched NZW/LacJ (Non SLE) were treated with vehicle or EET-A (10 mg/kg/d, p.o.) for 14 weeks and urine and kidney tissues were collected at the end of the protocol. SLE mice demonstrated marked renal chemotaxis with 30–60% higher renal mRNA expression of CXC chemokine receptors (CXCR) and CXC chemokines (CXCL) compared to Non SLE mice. In SLE mice, the elevated chemotaxis is associated with 5-15-fold increase in cytokine mRNA expression and elevated inflammatory cell infiltration in the kidney. SLE mice also had elevated BUN, serum creatinine, proteinuria, and renal fibrosis. Interestingly, EET-A treatment markedly diminished renal CXCR and CXCL renal mRNA expression in SLE mice. EET-A treatment also reduced renal TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, and IFN-γ mRNA expression by 70–80% in SLE mice. Along with reductions in renal chemokine and cytokine mRNA expression, EET-A reduced renal immune cell infiltration, BUN, serum creatinine, proteinuria and renal fibrosis in SLE mice. Overall, we demonstrate that an orally active EET analog, EET-A prevents renal injury in a mouse model of SLE by reducing inflammation

Role of 12/15-lipoxygenase in nitrosative stress and peripheral prediabetic and diabetic neuropathies

This study evaluated the role for 12/15-lipoxygenase, which converts arachidonic acid to 12(S)- and 15(S)-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids, in nitrosative stress in peripheral nervous system and peripheral prediabetic and diabetic neuropathies. The experiments were performed in C57Bl6/J mice made diabetic with streptozotocin or fed high-fat diet, and human Schwann cells cultured in 5.5 mM or 30 mM glucose. 12/15-lipoxygenase overexpression and activation were present in sciatic nerve and spinal cord of diabetic and high fat diet-fed mice, as well as in human Schwann cells cultured in high concentrations of D-, but not L-glucose. 12/15-lipoxygenase inhibition with cinnamyl-3,4-dihydroxy-α-cyanocinnamate (8 mgkg(-1)d(-1) s.c., for 4 weeks after 12 weeks without treatment) alleviated accumulation of nitrated proteins in sciatic nerve and spinal cord, and large and small nerve fiber dysfunction, but not intraepidermal nerve fiber loss. 12/15-lipoxygenase gene deficiency alleviated nitrosative stress and nerve conduction deficit, but not small sensory fiber neuropathy, in high-fat diet fed mice. In conclusion, 12/15-lipoxygenase is implicated in nitrosative stress and peripheral neuropathy in mouse models of Type 1 and early Type 2 diabetes. Its presence in human Schwann cells and upregulation by high glucose suggest a potential involvement in human disease