THE GOAL OF THIS RESEARCH IS TO DEVELOP A HIGHLY SENSITIVE AND SPECIFIC RADIOIMMUNOASSAY FOR LEUKOTRIENE E4 AND LEUKOTRIENE E4-N-ACETATE, TWO IMPORTANT METABOLITES OF LEUKOTRIENE C4 AND D4.

THE GOAL OF THIS RESEARCH IS TO DEVELOP A HIGHLY SENSITIVE AND SPECIFIC RADIOIMMUNOASSAY FOR LEUKOTRIENE E4 AND LEUKOTRIENE E4-N-ACETATE, TWO IMPORTANT METABOLITES OF LEUKOTRIENE C4 AND D4. THESE LEUKOTRIENES ARE POTENT BRONCO- AND CORONARY ARTERY VASOCONSTRICTORS, INCREASE VASCULAR PERMEABILITY, STIMULATE MUCUS SECRETION, AND CAUSE LONG-LASTING HYPOTENSION, THUS PLAYING A PATHOPHYSIOLOGICAL ROLE IN IMMEDIATE HYPERSENSITIVITY REACTIONS, INFLAMMATION, AND TISSUE TRAUMA. SPECIFIC AIMS OF THIS PROJECT INCLUDE: (1) PREPARATION OF A NUMBER OF LEUKOTRIENE E4 AND LEUKOTRI- ENE E4-N-AC-PROTEIN CONJUGATES HAVING VARIOUS MODES OF LEUKOTRIENE TO PROTEIN LINKAGE; (2) PRODUCTION OF ANTIBODIESTO EACH CONJUGATE BY IMMUNIZATION OF RABBITS; (3) COMPARISONOF THE ANTIBODIES AND SELECTION OF THOSE WITH HIGHEST SPECIFICITY AND SENSITIVITY; AND (4) PRODUCTION OF LEUKOTRIENE E4 AND E4-N-AC RADIOIMMUNOASSAY KITS FOR COMMERCIALIZATION. A LARGE NUMBER OF PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES ARE DEVELOPING SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC AGENTS BASED ON LEUKOTRIENE INHIBITION AND/OR ANTAGONISM, AND THESE KITS ARE EXPECTED TO FIND WIDE APPLICATION.