Resolvin E4 (RvE4)
belongs to the resolvin family of
specialized
pro-resolving mediators (SPMs). The resolvins are endogenously formed
mediators with both potent pro-resolving and anti-inflammatory biological
activities and have attracted considerable attention in both inflammation
research and drug discovery. Hence, further metabolism of the resolvins
is of interest. Gaining knowledge about the structure–function
of further metabolites of the resolvins is important due to their
interest in drug-discovery efforts. For the first time, the total
synthesis and biological evaluations of the ω-20 hydroxylated
metabolite of RvE4, named herein 20-OH-RvE4, are presented. RvE4 was
converted to 20-OH-RvE4 by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes. LC–MS/MS
analysis and UV spectrophotometry reveal that the synthetic 20-OH-RvE4
matched RvE4-converted product 20-OH-RvE4 by human neutrophils. Cellular
studies have revealed that RvE4 is formed from eicosapentaenoic acid
in physiologic hypoxia by human neutrophils and macrophages, and we
herein established that 20-OH-RvE4 is a secondary metabolite formed
by the ω-oxidation of RvE4 in human neutrophils. A direct comparison
of the biological actions between RvE4 and its metabolic product suggested
that 20-OH-RvE4 displayed reduced bioactions in stimulating the efferocytosis
of human senescent erythrocytes by human M2-like macrophages. At concentrations
down to 0.1 nM, RvE4 increased macrophage erythrophagocytosis, an
important pro-resolving function that was diminished due to metabolic
transformation. The results provided herein contribute to a novel
molecular insight on the further local metabolization of RvE4, the
newest member among the SPM superfamily.