Eicosanoids, also known as eicosanoids, include prostaglandins (PG), thromboxanes (TX), leukotrienes (LT), and lipoxins (LX). Prostanoids refer to prostaglandins PGs and thromboxanes TXs. Prostanoids are named according to the number of carbon-carbon double bonds in the molecule. Most biologically active prostaglandins and thromboxanes are series 2 molecules due to the presence of two carbon-carbon double bonds. Eicosanoids with four carbon-carbon double bonds are series 4 molecules. The first discovered prostaglandin was found in the prostate, and the first discovered thromboxane was synthesized in platelets. Leukotrienes were first identified from white blood cells. Lipoxins are eicosanoid-related inflammatory factors produced through the interaction of lipoxygenases with eicosanoids. Taking aspirin increases the synthesis of lipoxins. Therefore, lipoxins are potent inflammatory regulatory eicosanoid compounds. Other eicosanoid derivatives include resolvins (Rv) and protectins (PD).
Eicosanoids play an important role in inflammatory responses in joints, skin, and eyes, induction of labor, as well as the intensity and duration of pain and fever. They also help inhibit gastric acid secretion, regulate blood pressure through vasodilation or constriction, and inhibit or activate platelet aggregation and thrombosis. The eicosanoids with the greatest biological significance for the human body are numerous arachidonic acid derivatives in the pathway from linoleic acid to arachidonic acid. A minority of eicosanoids are derived from eicosapentaenoic acid originating from α-linolenic acid. The main source of arachidonic acid is the release from cellular stores. Inside cells, arachidonic acid is primarily located at the C-2 position of membrane phospholipids and is released by the activation of PLA2.
Eicosanoid analysis
Eicosanoids can be synthesized in all mammalian cells except red blood cells. These molecules are potent, and small amounts of eicosanoids can exert powerful physiological effects. At the site of synthesis, eicosanoids exert their local effects through receptor-mediated G-protein-coupled signaling pathways. There are two main pathways for the biosynthesis of eicosanoids. The cyclooxygenase pathway produces prostaglandins and thromboxanes, while the lipoxygenase pathway produces leukotrienes.
Eicosanoids play a critical role in various diseases such as asthma, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, so it is very meaningful to detect and quantify these compounds. Due to the relatively low concentrations of endogenous eicosanoids, sensitive and specific analytical methods are required to quantify these compounds. HPLC-MS/MS has become one of the main techniques for quantifying eicosanoids. BiotechPack offers reliable, fast, and cost-effective eicosanoid analysis services based on high stability, repeatable, and highly sensitive systems for separation, characterization, identification, and quantification analysis combined with LC-MS/MS.
BiotechPack can provide the following eicosanoid analyses
