Subunits and cellular occurrence of the 12(S)-HETE binding complex

12(S)-Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid is a 12-lipoxygenase product of arachidonic acid1. 12(S)-HETE has been shown to be produced in a variety of cells and a major source is platelets2. Several other bone-marrow derived cells, such as macrophages, erythrocytes, lymphocytes and neutrophils also produce 12(S)-HETE, usually as a minor metabolite. The same is true for vascular cells, endothelium as well as smooth muscle, cells in the central nervous system and keratinocytes. 12(S)-HETE has diverse effects in these cells: It has been proposed to play a role in platelet activation3, in the pathogenesis of psoriasis4,5, in neurotransmitter peptide-induced hyperpolarization by neuronal cells6 and in modulating the metastatic potential of melanoma and carcinoma cells7.12-Lipoxygenase has been reported to influence the expression of bcl-2 protein8, an essential regulator of cell survival and apoptosis.