15-HETE is the main eicosanoid present in mucus of ulcerative proctocolitis

Abstract

Prostaglandins, leukotrienes and mono-hydroxy acid products of arachidonic acid were measured in mucus of freshly recovered morning stools of a patient with an exacerbation of ulcerative proctocolitis. Eicosanoids in ether extracts were separated by high performance liquid chromatography and amounts determined by radioimmunoassay. Four hydroxy-eicosatetraenoic acids were detected, of which the most important one was identified as 15-hydroxy eicosatetraenoic acid (530 ng/g mucus). Leukotriene B 4 was also present (21 ng/g mucus) and small amounts of immunoreactive leukotriene C 4 (< 0.8 ng/g mucus). The prostaglandins 6-keto-PGF 1α and PGE 2 and thromboxane B 2 were found in amounts of 3.7, 2.0 and 9.2 ng/g mucus, respectively.