leu·ko·tri·ene (l  k -tr   n)n. Any of several lipid compounds that contain 20 carbon atoms, are related to prostaglandins, and mediate the inflammatory response. |
leukotriene [ˌluːkəʊˈtraɪiːn]
n
(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Biochemistry) one of a class of products of metabolic conversion of arachidonic acid; the active constituents of slow-reacting substance, responsible for bronchial constriction, contraction of smooth muscle, and inflammatory processes
[from leukocyte, in which they were discovered + triene from the conjugated triene unit that they contain]
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