Leukotriene D4 (LTD4) is one of the constituents of slow-reacting substance of anaphylaxis (SRS-A) produced by the metabolism of LTC4 by γ-glutamyl transpeptidase.[1],[2] LTD4-induced bronchoconstriction and enhanced vascular permeability contribute to the pathogenesis of asthma and acute hypersensitivity.[3],[4] LTD4 is several hundred fold more potent than LTC4 at the cysteinyl-leukotriene 1 (CysLT1) receptor, but they exhibit approximately equal affinity at the CysLT2 receptor.[5],[6] LTD4 methyl ester is a more lipid soluble form of LTD4. The biological activity of LTD4 methyl ester has not been reported.
Reference:
[1]. Örning, L., Hammarström, S., and Samuelsson, B. Leukotriene D: A slow reacting substance from rat basophilic leukemia cells. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 77, 2014-2017 (1980).
[2]. Hammarström, S., Örning, L., and Bernström, K. Metabolism of leukotrienes. Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry 69, 7-16 (1985).
[3]. Hedqvist, P., Dahlén, S.E., Gustafsson, L., et al. Biological profile of leukotrienes C4 and D4. Acta Physiologica Scandinavica 110, 331-333 (1980).
[4]. Samuelsson, B., Dahlén, S.E., Lindgren, J.Å., et al. Leukotrienes and lipoxins: Structures, biosynthesis, and biological effects. Science 237, 1171-1176 (1987).
[5]. Lynch, K.R., O'Neill, G.P., Liu, Q., et al. Characterization of the human cysteinyl leukotriene CysLT1 receptor. Nature 399(6738), 789-793 (1999).
[6]. Heise, C.E., O'Dowd, B.F., Figueroa, D.J., et al. Characterization of the human cysteinyl leukotriene 2 receptor. J. Biol. Chem. 275(39), 30531-30536 (2000).