Distribution of 5-, 12-lipoxygenases in porcine ciliary epithelial cells

Nonpigmented epithelial cells (NPE) and pigmented epithelial cells (PE) were separated from porcine ciliary processes without protease treatment. The relative capabilities of NPE and PE to synthesize 5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (5-HETE), 12-HETE, 5,12-diHETE from 1- (14C) arachidonic acid were determined by high pressure liquid chromatography. The capability of NPE to synthesize 5-lipoxygenase and 12-lipoxygenase products was, respectively, 5-fold and 2,5-fold higher than that of PE. The formation of 5-HETE, 12-HETE and 5,12-diHETE was inhibited almost completely by 50 microM nordihydroguaiaretic acid. It was suggested that NPE played a role in the regulation of aqueous humor formation and intraocular inflammation.