Leukotrienes are important mediators of inflammation
- They increase vascular permeability
- They increase immune cell chemotaxis
- They increase immune cell activation
- They increase immune cell production
Leukotrienes are powerful bronchioconstrictors:
- Leukotrienes signal via G-protein coupled receptors that lead to smooth muscle contraction:
- Gq receptors (increase IP3 leading to increased Ca2+ leading to myosin light chain phosphorylation).
- Gi receptors (decrease cAMP; cAMP stimulates myosin light chain dephosphorylation)/
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