Functional characterisation of receptors for cysteinyl leukotrienes in smooth muscle

The cysteinyl leukotrienes (leukotriene C-4, D-4 and E-4) have potent biological actions which significantly contribute to the airway obstruction in asthma. Several of these effects are blocked by drugs known as CysLT(1)-receptor antagonists: However, there are actions of leukotrienes which are not sensitive to these antagonists, suggesting the presence of additional receptor subtypes. It was the aim of this Thesis to extend the knowledge about receptors for cysteinyl leukotrienes. Three different isolated smooth muscle preparations kept in organ baths under non-flow conditions were characterised with respect to responsiveness to cysteinyl leukotrienes and sensitivity to purported CysLT(1)-receptor antagonists. In addition, the study involved evaluation of a leukotriene E-4 analogue, BAY u9773, suggested to inhibit responses which cannot be blocked by CysLT(1)-receptor antagonists. These responses have provisionally been considered to be mediated by CysLT(2)-receptors. In the guinea pig ileum, BAY u9773 but not the selective CysLT(1) receptor antagonist ICI 198,615 inhibited the contractile response to leukotriene C-4 in a fashion suggesting competitive antagonism. In sheep trachealis muscle, BAY u9773 antagonised contractions induced by leukotriene C-4 and leukotriene D-4 in a similar manner, whereas ICI 198,615 did not. The observations support that leukotriene C-4 in guinea pig ileum, and leukotriene C-4 as well as leukotriene D-4 in sheep trachealis muscle, mediated contractions via activation of CysLT(2)-receptors. In guinea pig lung parenchyma, the effects of BAY u9773 and conventional cysteinyl leukotriene receptor antagonists (ICI 198,615, FPL 55712) were more complex. First, BAY u9773 evoked a contraction, which could be inhibited by antagonists of CysLT(1)- and TP-receptors. This suggested that BAY u9773 acted as an agonist at these two receptors. Second, pretreatment with BAY u9773 inhibited a distinct but relatively small component of the contractile response to leukotriene C-4 and D-4. The effects of BAY u9773 and ICI 198,615 were similar in guinea pig lung parenchyma. The findings suggest that the receptor mediating the major part of the contractile response to exogenous cysteinyl leukotrienes in guinea pig lung parenchyma was different from the currently defined CysLT(2)-receptor. Furthermore, the data suggested that BAY u9773 was a partial agonist at cysteinyl leukotriene receptors, which presumably contributed to its profile of activity as a combined CysLT(1)- and CysLT(2)-receptor antagonist. In addition to contracting guinea pig lung parenchyma, leukotriene C-4 and lipoxin A(4) also evoked release of thromboxane A(2). This release was sensitive to CysLT(1)-receptor antagonists and contributed to part of the contractile response. Finally, the investigations included a characterisation of the role of leukotrienes in antigen-induced contractions of lung parenchyma from actively sensitised guinea pigs. Combination of antihistamines with CysLT(1)-receptor antagonists or inhibitors of leukotriene biosynthesis blocked the major component of the antigen-induced contraction. The findings are similar to those observed in isolated human bronchi and support that this model may be used to investigate mediator mechanisms of relevance to asthma.