Microbial Enzyme Stereoselectively Converts Epa Into 17(S),18(R)-Epoxyeicosatetraenoic Acid Useful For The Amelioration Of Contact Hypersensitivity

Dietary intake of ω3 fatty acids such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid are beneficial for health control because ω3 fatty acids are metabolized to pro-resolution and anti-inflammatory lipid metabolites. We previously identified 17,18-epoxyeicosatetraenoic acid (17,18-EpETE) as a new lipid metabolite endogenously generated from EPA that exhibits potent anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the chemically synthesized 17,18-EpETE is enantiomeric mixture concerning to its epoxy group, i.e., 17(S),18(R)-EpETE and 17(R),18(S)-EpETE, and the stereostructural differences in anti-inflammatory effect of 17,18-EpETE has not been clarified. Because it is necessary to identify which isomer shows physiological function to develop it as a medicine, we evaluated stereospecific effects of 17(S),18(R)-EpETE and 17(R),18(S)-EpETE in amelioration of skin contact hypersensitivity. As a result, we found that anti-inflammatory activity was detected in 17(S),18(R)-EpETE, but not 17(R),18(S)-EpETE. In addition, we found that cytochrome P450 BM-3 derived from Bacillus megaterium stereoselectively converts EPA into 17(S),18(R)-EpETE, which effectively inhibited the development of contact hypersensitivity by inhibiting neutrophil migration in a G protein-coupled receptor 40-dependent manner. These results demonstrated that immune cells (e.g., neutrophils) distinguish biological active lipid metabolites stereoselectively for the control of their activity, which is a new strategy for the development of efficient immunotherapy.