The Relation of Leukotrienes to Liver Injury

The recent elucidation of chemical structures, metabolism and biological actions of the leukotriene constituents of slow-reacting substance of anaphylaxis (LTC,, LTD, and LTE,) and of the chemotactic leukotriene LTB, contributes to an improved understanding of disease processes and therapeutic interventions. This is evident in view of the potent cardiovascular and proinflammatory actions of the leukotrienes (1-8). The liver plays an important role in the uptake of the amino acidsubstituted leukotrienes LTC,, LTD, and LTE, from the circulation and in their biliary elimination (9-11). This hepatobiliary elimination is impaired in cholestasis (1 1, 12). Moreover, leukotrienes may be key mediators in inflammatory liver diseases (12).