Arachidonate 15-lipoxygenase (ALOX15)

Arachidonate 15-lipoxygenase (ALOX15, commonly referred to as 15-LOX or 15-LOX-1) is an enzyme that catalyzes the stereo-specific peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids, particularly the addition of a hydroperoxy group at carbon 15 of arachidonic acid to generate 15(S)-hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acid (15(S)-HpETE), which is rapidly reduced to 15(S)-HETE[3][5][6]. This enzyme is crucial for the biosynthesis of specialized pro-resolving lipid mediators and is highly expressed in certain immune cells, especially macrophages, where it regulates the oxidation of membrane phospholipids and supports the non-immunogenic removal of apoptotic cells during inflammation resolution[4]. Variants of ALOX15 activity or expression are implicated in a range of disorders, notably inflammatory and cardiovascular diseases, cancer, asthma, and neurodegeneration[3][5][6]. Several small-molecule inhibitors have been developed to study the therapeutic potential of modulating ALOX15 activity in these conditions, but clinical use remains limited mostly to research settings.

Other names

15-lipoxygenase15-LOX15-LOX-1Reticulocyte-type 15-lipoxygenaseLeukocyte 15-lipoxygenaseALOX15A

Enzyme inhibition (by small molecule inhibitors, reducing formation of pro-inflammatory and pro-resolving lipid mediators) Modulation of lipid mediator biosynthesis (affecting downstream pathways in inflammation and cell survival)