Lipoxygenase and related eicosanoid pathway enzymes (LOX/Eicosanoid pathway enzymes)

Lipoxygenase and related eicosanoid pathway enzymes are a group of oxidoreductases, including the lipoxygenase (LOX) and cyclooxygenase (COX) families, that catalyze the oxygenation of polyunsaturated fatty acids like arachidonic acid (StatPearls, 2023). These enzymes, such as 5-LOX (ALOX5), COX-1 (PTGS1), and COX-2 (PTGS2), are central to the production of eicosanoids—bioactive lipid mediators including prostaglandins, thromboxanes, and leukotrienes—which regulate inflammation, immune responses, and vascular tone (UniProt, 2024). Dysregulation of these pathways is implicated in various pathologies, including asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, and cancer (PubMed, 2022). Pharmacological modulation of these enzymes is a cornerstone of anti-inflammatory therapy, with drugs like zileuton targeting 5-LOX and NSAIDs like aspirin and celecoxib targeting COX enzymes (PubChem, 2024). However, therapeutic targeting requires balancing the inhibition of pro-inflammatory signals with the preservation of homeostatic functions, as seen in the gastrointestinal and cardiovascular risks associated with COX inhibitors (NIH, 2023). Additionally, these enzymes are involved in the production of specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs) that help terminate inflammation, suggesting that complete inhibition may sometimes be counterproductive (Nature Reviews Immunology, 2021). This target entry encompasses a broad metabolic pathway rather than a single protein, reflecting the integrated nature of lipid signaling in human health and disease.

Other names

Eicosanoid biosynthetic enzymesArachidonic acid metabolism enzymesLipoxygenase pathwayCyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase enzymesArachidonate metabolism enzymes

Inhibition of enzyme activity to prevent the conversion of arachidonic acid into pro-inflammatory eicosanoids such as leukotrienes, prostaglandins, and thromboxanes.