Role and Detection of 9 and 13-Hydroxyoctadecadienoic Acids

Linoleic acid is the predominant polyunsaturated fatty acid in the human diet. It is also a major component of membrane fatty acids in leukocytes and other tissues1–3. This fatty acid can be metabolized by cyclooxygenase, lipoxygenase and P450 enzymes. The monohydroxy lipoxygenation products of linoleic acid, 9 and D-hydroxyoctadecadienoic acids (9(S) and 13(S)-HODEs), are the most widely distributed of the known linoleic acid metabolites. These compounds exhibit interesting biologic activities, including regulation of platelet function, maintenance of vascular thromboresistance and transduction of the cellular responses to certain growth factors4,5. In addition to the regulatory influences of 13-HODE on vascular interactions, monohydroxy metabolites of linoleic acid may also have roles in the pathology of atherosclerosis and oxidative stress6,7. It is also clear that linoleic acid has a specific role in the angiogeneis-metastasis8. The development of quantitative immunoassays for 9 and 13-hydroxyoctadecadienoic acids will permit clarification of the role of these fatty acids in normal physiology and certain pathologic states with much greater sophistication than is currently available. Therefore, we have produced polyclonal antibodies to these key bioactive lipid metabolites and have developed a sensitive and specific enzyme immunoassay which should be valuable for clinical studies.