Biological properties of hepoxylines

Abstract

Hepoxylines, arachidonic acid metabolites, are present in many tissues of the body and regulate various cell functions. We investigated the biological effects of hepoxylines B3 (10R and 10S epimers) on the secretory processes using primary cultures of rat pancreatic islet cells, adenohypophyseal ceils, and hepatocytes. Hepoxylines added to culture medium boosted the secretion of insulin and serum albumin and inhibited prolactin secretion. Hepoxyline effect on insulin secretion did not depend on the presence of glucose in the medium. Experiments on a model of type 11 diabetes showed that exogenous hepoxylines partially repair the islet cell sensitivity to glucose. Impaired synthesis of hepoxylines and their metabolism or receptor interactions with pancreatic p-cells may be one pathogenetic factor in the development of non-insulindependent diabetes mellitus. In order to verify this hypothesis, methods and agents boosting and inhibiting the production of endogenous hepoxylines are needed and the effects of hepoxylines on tissues resistant to insulin because of type II diabetes are to be studied.