The 5(R) and 5(S) hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids (5[R]-HETE, 5[S]-HETE) are important inflammatory mediators in lung diseases: they increase mucus, induce airway contraction, and potentiate neutrophil chemotaxis. Neutrophils are important cells in allergic and inflammatory lung diseases. Therefore, we examined the effects of both 5(R)-HETE and 5(S)-HETE on human neutrophil migration across naked filters and human umbilical vein endothelial (HUVE) cell and human type II-like pulmonary epithelial cell (A549) monolayers cultured on these filters. Time courses for both 5(R)-HETE and 5(S)-HETE show significant neutrophil migration at 40 min and maximal migration at 60 to 90 min through all three barriers. Checkerboard analysis showed that migration was chemotactic. Dose-response curves for both isomers through cellular monolayers had the same shapes, but 5(R)-HETE was more potent than 5(S)-HETE. There was greater migration through cellular barriers than through naked filters. Actinomycin D pretreatment of the cellular monolayers slightly inhibited the neutrophil transcellular chemotactic response to both 5-HETEs equally. Enhanced transcellular migration was not due to the production of a soluble chemotactic factor. Thus, although both isomers of 5-HETE were potent chemotactic agents, 5(R)-HETE was slightly more potent. Moreover, relevant endothelial and epithelial monolayers enhance both dose- and time-dependent neutrophil migration stimulated by 5(R)-HETE and 5(S)-HETE. These data indicate that (1) both 5(R)-HETE and 5(S)-HETE are important in mediating lung inflammatory processes, and (2) 5(R)-HETE may play a more important role in neutrophil-rich lung inflammatory responses than 5(S)-HETE because it is a more potent inducer of neutrophil migration through endothelial and epithelial barriers.