Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes, and Related Compounds

Abstract

The lipid-derived autacoids like prostaglandins, thromboxanes, leukotrienes, and platelet-activating factors play a major role in inflammation. Derived from a common source—arachidonic acid, these lipid-derived autacoids produce a myriad of physiological action. Prostaglandins are considered as housekeeper biomolecule in vast number of tissues, where they maintain the homeostasis via their specific receptors like IP, FP, EP, and DP receptors. In general, PGE and PGI have the opposite physiological functions to PGF, TXA_2, and leukotrienes. Based on their physiological action, numerous prostaglandin analogs like misoprostol, alprostadil, latanoprost, travoprost, and others have been developed and are extensively used to treat various clinical conditions. Prostaglandin analogs are nowadays recommended as the first drugs of choice for open-angle glaucoma. Similarly, leukotriene antagonists like zafirlukast and montelukast are being used in asthma for a long time. Recently, compounds related to prostaglandins like levuglandins (isoketals), prostamides, and esterified prostaglandins have been identified. The receptors for such compounds are under study and their role in maintaining homeostasis and in certain diseases like asthma, Alzheimer’s disease, and others have been studied in depth currently.