Lipoxin A4 methyl ester (LXA4 methyl ester) is a more lipid soluble, prodrug formulation of the transcellular metabolite LXA4. LXA4 is a trihydroxy fatty acid containing a conjugated tetraene, produced by the metabolism of 15-HETE or 15-HpETE with human leukocytes.[1] LXA4 is equipotent to leukotriene B4 (LTB4) in inducing superoxide generation in human neutrophils at 0.1 μM.[2] LXA4 is associated with several other biological functions including leukocyte activation, chemotaxis effects, natural killer cell inhibition, and monocyte migration and adhesion.[2],[3],[4]

The lipoxins are trihydroxy fatty acids containing a 7,9,11,13-conjugated tetraene. Lipoxin A4 (LXA4) was first described as a metabolite of 15-HpETE and/or 15-HETE when added in vitro to isolated human leukocytes. The material obtained in this manner consists of at least four distinct isomers: 5(S), 6(S); 5(S), 6(R); and the 11-trans and 11-cis isomers of each of these. 6(S)-LXA4 is one of the original four metabolites first identified by Serhan, Nicolaou, and Samuelsson. It was considered to be an artifact by these authors because it lacked the potency of the 5(S),6(R) isomer with respect to contraction of isolated guinea pig lung parenchymal strips. It has not been possible to isolate natural LXA4 from humans or other mammals in amounts sufficient for determination of absolute stereochemistry. Most authors refer to LXA4 as the 5(S)

Lipid-derived lipoxins are produced at the site of vascular and mucosal inflammation where they down-regulate polymorphonuclear leukocyte recruitment and function. 15(R)-Lipoxin A4 (15(R)-LXA4) is derived from the aspirin-triggered formation of 15(R)-HETE from arachidonic acid. [1] [2] 15(R)-LXA4 inhibits LTB4-induced chemotaxis, adherence, and transmigration of neutrophils with twice the potency of LXA4 demonstrating activity in the nM range.[2] [3] The anti-inflammatory effects of aspirin may be ascribed in part to the ability of 15(R)-LXA4 to regulate leukocyte function.[4] 15(R)-LXA4 is reported to promote resolution of inflammation in LPS-treated stromal cells derived from intermediate-stage diseased supraspinatus tendons as evidenced by increased expression of the STAT-6 pathway target genes, ALOX15 and CD206.[5]

Lipoxin A4 (LXA4) is a lipoxygenase-derived arachidonate-like mediator with anti-inflammatory properties.Lipoxin A4 attenuates MSU crystal-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation through inhibition of Nrf2, and regulates M1/M2 macrophage polarization through the FPR2-IRF pathway.Lipoxin inhibits oxidative stress and inflammation.