Eicosanoid synthesis pathway enzyme

Eicosanoid synthesis pathway enzymes are a group of enzymes responsible for the biosynthesis of eicosanoids, which are bioactive lipid mediators derived from polyunsaturated fatty acids such as arachidonic acid. The three main classes are cyclooxygenases (COX‑1 and COX‑2), which produce prostaglandins and thromboxanes; lipoxygenases (such as 5‑LOX), which generate leukotrienes and lipoxins; and certain cytochrome P450 monooxygenases, which form epoxyeicosatrienoic acids and hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids. These enzymes play central roles in regulating inflammation, immune responses, vascular tone, pain perception, fever generation, platelet aggregation, and other physiological processes. They are major therapeutic targets for anti-inflammatory drugs such as NSAIDs that inhibit cyclooxygenases or leukotriene-modifying agents used in asthma therapy. Dysregulation or overactivity of these pathways is implicated in diseases including chronic inflammation, cancer progression, cardiovascular disorders like thrombosis or hypertension, asthma/allergy syndromes, among others[1][2][3].

Other names

Cyclooxygenase (COX)Lipoxygenase (LOX)Cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymesProstaglandin-endoperoxide synthasePLA2 (phospholipase A2)

Inhibition of cyclooxygenases to reduce prostaglandin and thromboxane synthesis[1][2][3] - Inhibition of lipoxygenases to reduce leukotriene production[3]