Regulation of the Human Polymorphonuclear Leukocyte Inflammatory Response by Inhibitors of Arachidonic Acid Metabolism

Perturbation of the neutrophil membrane by opsonized zymosan particles activates the cell's “respiratory burst.” Associated with this activation process is the generation of highly reactive oxygen products, including superoxide, and the release of lysosomal enzymes. Membrane activation also stimulates arachidonic acid metabolism and the generation of a wide variety of products through both the lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase pathways. In isolated human neutrophils, we have evaluated the effects inhibitors of cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase upon opsonized zymosan stimulated chemiluminescence, superoxide generation, oxygen consumption, and beta-glucuronidase release. Nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA), an inhibitor of the lipoxygenase enzyme, suppressed chemiluminescence, superoxide generation, oxygen consumption, and beta-glucuronidase release. Both indomethacin, a cyclcooxygenase inhibitor, and 5,8,11,14 -eicosatetraynoic acid (ETYA) an inhibitor of both cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase, inhibited all tested neutrophil functions. However, when compared to NDGA, indomethacin and ETYA were considerably less potent. Our observations suggest that the lipooxygenase derived metabolites play a predominant regulatory role in these neutrophil inflammatory functions.     

Augmentation of human monocyte chemiluminescence by iron-saturated lactoferrin

The effect of Fe3+ bound lactoferrin (LF) on chemiluminescence (CL) generation in human monocytes in the presence and absence of opsonized zymosan was examined. Fe3+ bound LF (10(-6) or 10(-7) M) augmented the CL response in the presence but not the absence of zymosan. In contrast, Apo LF, Fe3+ bound transferrin and Fe3+ itself had no significant effect. It appears that the effect of LF on zymosan-induced chemiluminescence is dependent on iron and is receptor specific. The augmentation of CL by LF was inhibited by superoxide dismutase (SOD) and ETYA (fatty acid cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase inhibitor), but not indomethacin (fatty acid cyclooxygenase inhibitor). Thus the enhancement of CL by LF depends on superoxide anion production and is related to the lipoxygenase pathway. The significance of this observation in terms of microbicidal or tumoricidal mechanisms remains to be determined.     

Differential effects of putative lipoxygenase inhibitors on arachidonic acid metabolism in cell-free and intact cell preparations

The effects of nordihydroguairetic acid (NDGA), 3-amino-1-trifluoromethyl-)-phenyl-2-pyrazoline (BW755c), eicostatetraynoic acid (ETYA), phenidone, quercetin, and indomethacin (INDO) on the synthesis of 15-hydroxyeicosatatetraenoic acid (15-HETE) from soybean 15-lipoxygenase, leukotriene B₄ (LTB₄ from 5-lipoxygenase, and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂ from cyclooxygenase enzymes of rat neutrophils and mouse peritoneal macrophages were investigated. All of the drugs caused a dose-related inhibition of increased oxygen consumption by soybean 15-lipoxygenase in the presence of arachidonic acid and the rank order of potency was phenidone BW755c > ETYA > quercetin > NDGA > indomethacin. The reduction in oxygen consumption correlated with a reduction of 15-HETE formation as identified by high-performance liquid chromatography. Apart from indomethacin, these drugs were also effective against the rat neutrophil 5-lipoxygenase, although the rank order of potency did not correlate with that obtained with soybean 15-lipoxygenase. Furthermore, in both A23187-activated rat neutrophils and zymosan-activated mouse peritoneal macrophages the synthesis of prostaglandins was inhibited by all of these drugs. In the neutrophils, the rank order of potency was INDO > ETYA > BW755c > quercetin > NDGA > phenidone, whereas in mouse peritoneal macrophages, the order was INDO > ETYA > BW755c > NDGA > quercetin > phenidone. These results suggest that putative lipoxygenase inhibitors exhibit both qualitative and quantitative differences in their effects on both lipoxygenases and cyclooxygenases.     

Stimulation of human neutrophil degranulation by mefloquine

The effect of the antimalarial drug mefloquine on human neutrophil degranulation, chemiluminescence, superoxide production and viability was examined in vitro. Mefloquine was found to significantly stimulate the release of lysozyme, beta-glucuronidase and myeloperoxide at a concentration of 10 micrograms/ml (2.5 X 10(-5) M) without loss of cell viability. At 40 micrograms/ml mefloquine (1 X 10(-4) M) cell viability was significantly decreased. Mefloquine at 10 micrograms/ml also significantly increased the release of lysozyme and beta-glucuronidase but not myeloperoxidase when neutrophils were stimulated with opsonized zymosan. At a lower zymosan concentration myeloperoxidase release was also increased. Enzyme activity was not directly stimulated by mefloquine. Mefloquine at 10 micrograms/ml significantly increased luminol-dependent chemiluminescence but significantly inhibited lucigenin-dependent chemiluminescence when neutrophils were stimulated with opsonized zymosan. Under these conditions superoxide release, measured by cytochrome c reduction, was inhibited to a lesser degree. These results are discussed with reference to our previous report that mefloquine inhibits the neutrophil iodination reaction [Immunology 58: 125-130, 1986] and the use of mefloquine as an anti-inflammatory drug.     

Isoproterenol inhibition of isolated human neutrophil function

The human PMN can contribute to the inflammatory response. Several neutrophil responses can be inhibited by agonists that increase the cellular levels of cyclic AMP. In the following article, we compared the effects of ISO on lysosomal beta-glucuronidase release, superoxide generation, and CL in isolated human PMNs. ISO inhibited the neutrophil CL response to opsonized zymosan in a dose-dependent fashion with maximal effects at 10(-4)M. ISO inhibition of CL was not enhanced by the addition of theophylline, nor was CL inhibited by the exogenous addition cyclic AMP except at a very high concentration of 10(-3)M. ISO also suppressed beta-glucuronidase release and superoxide generation in neutrophils during an incubation with opsonized zymosan particles. For ISO to inhibit beta-glucuronidase release and superoxide generation, theophylline (5 X 10(-4)M) was necessary. ISO effectively inhibits three neutrophil functions that are capable of causing tissue inflammation. Although ISO suppressed all three neutrophil responses, the inhibitory mechanisms appear to be variable.     

Flavonoid modulation of human neutrophil function

Flavonoids are naturally occurring plant compounds that have been demonstrated to possess a variety of anti-inflammatory effects. We studied the effects of flavonoids on three aspects of neutrophil function that are commonly considered to be associated with inflammation: the release of lysosomal enzymes, the chemiluminescence (CL) response, and the production of superoxide anion. Quercetin and eight other flavonoids at a 10(-5)M concentration inhibited the neutrophil CL response to opsonized zymosan particles by approximately 60% or more. In contrast, the release of lysosomal beta-glucuronidase from neutrophils stimulated with opsonized zymosan was only inhibited by two flavonoids, quercetin and chalcone, and only at concentrations of 1.5 X 10(-4)M to 2 X 10(-4)M. Quercetin also inhibited the generation of superoxide anion by neutrophils but to a lesser degree than its effect on CL. The present studies demonstrated that certain flavonoids are not uniformly active in inhibiting neutrophil CL, beta-glucuronidase release, or superoxide generation. The effects of flavonoids on neutrophil functions probably depend on many variables including the response measured, the activating stimulus, and specific flavonoid structural features.     

Rat neutrophil activation and effects of lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase inhibitors

Activation (defined as lysosomal enzyme secretion and generation of O(2) of rat neutrophils has been measured with the use of varying doses of soluble stimuli (phorbol myristate acetate (PMA); calcium ionophore A23187; and N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenyl-alanine (FMLP] and particulate agents (immune complexes and zymosan particles). With either the calcium ionophore or the chemotactic peptide (FMLP), substantial enzyme release occurred, but the amount of O(2) produced was very small. Cytochalasin B greatly enhanced the enzyme release response to the chemotactic peptide but had little effect on neutrophil responses to other soluble stimuli. The cell response to PMA resulted in the greatest production of O(2) with significant enzyme secretion. When cell stimulation with insoluble stimuli (immune complexes or zymosan particles) was studied, significant amounts of enzyme release occurred in parallel with the generation of substantial amounts of O(2). The presence of cytochalasin B enhanced the cell responses to immune complexes but had an inhibitory effect on zymosan-induced responses. As expected, the amount of lysozyme secreted by stimulated rat neutrophils tended to exceed the amount of beta-glucuronidase released from the same cells. Neutrophil responses were investigated in the presence of drugs that were demonstrated in the rat neutrophil to inhibit either the lipoxygenase or the cyclooxygenase pathway. Inhibitors of the cyclooxygenase pathway (indomethacin, piroxicam, ibuprofen, BW755C), with few exceptions, consistently enhanced the enzyme secretion response, while effects on O(2) generation were less clear-cut but tended to be predominantly inhibitory. Drugs with inhibitory effects on the lipoxygenase pathway (nordihydroguaiaretic acid and nafazatrom) had significant inhibitory effects on both enzyme secretion as well as generation of O(2). These data suggest that activation responses (enzyme secretion and O(2) generation) of rat neutrophils may be dissociated (ie, one not always accompanying the other). Further, it appears that neutrophil activation, as defined by enzyme secretion, is enhanced by products of the lipoxygenase pathway and suppressed by products of the cyclooxygenase pathway. Generation of O(2) is not affected in such a clear-cut manner. Taken together the data suggest that enzyme release and O(2) production by activated rat neutrophils may be under separate control.     

Prostaglandin biosynthesis by a human macrophage-like cell line, U937

The human macrophage-like cell line, U937, produced significant amounts of prostaglandin (PG) E2 when incubated with exogenous arachidonic acid (AA). The synthesis of PGE2 was completely inhibited by pretreatment with indomethacin (20 micrograms/ml). Another major metabolite, unidentified, which was released during incubation with AA, was not inhibited by indomethacin, but was decreased by nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) (10(-5)M) or BW755C (10(-4)M). These results confirm the presence of cyclooxygenase and perhaps lipoxygenase activities in this macrophage-like cell line. Challenge of U937 cells with zymosan, opsonized zymosan, phorbolmyristate acetate (PMA), heat-aggregated human IgG (AHG), or calcium ionophore A23187 failed to stimulate synthesis and release of either PGE2 or the above mentioned metabolite. The inability of U937 cells to release endogenous AA from cell lipid for PG synthesis constitutes an important functional difference between these cells and normal macrophages.     

Cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase inhibitors act differently on oxidative product formation by immune mononuclear cells: a flow cytometric investigation

The action of indomethacin, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, and nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA), a lipoxygenase inhibitor, on oxidative products formed by immune mononuclear cells was studied by flow cytometry. Jurkat T-cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells were incubated with 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate; this substance is hydrolyzed in the cells leading to non-fluorescent 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin which is oxidized by oxygen reactive species into highly fluorescent 2,7'-dichlorofluorescein. Using this fluorescent probe, the formation of oxygen reactive species in phytohemagglutinin-stimulated mononuclear cells treated by NDGA or indomethacin was followed by flow cytometry. We observed that NDGA caused a marked decrease, both in the level of fluorescence intensity and in the number of fluorescent cells, whereas indomethacin caused a small increase in fluorescence intensity. On the other hand, NDGA inhibited and indomethacin increased the incorporation of tritiated thymidine by phytohemagglutinin-stimulated lymphocytes. These results suggest that oxygen reactive species are involved in the stimulation of immune mononuclear cells.     

Inhibition of neutrophil phospholipase A2 by p-bromophenylacyl bromide, nordihydroguaiaretic acid, 5,8,11,14-eicosatetraynoic acid and quercetin

The lipoxygenase and/or cyclooxygenase inhibitors nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA), 4,8,11,14-eicosatetraynoic acid (ETYA) and the bioflavonoid, quercetin, also inhibit phospholipase A2 (phosphatidase 2-acyl hydrolase; EC 3.1.1.4) activity of neutrophil acid extracts and sonicates. The IC50 are 13 microM for NDGA, 22 microM for ETYA, and 100 microM for quercetin when measured on the neutrophil acid extracts; the IC50 obtained with the sonicates are 11 microM, 12 microM and 57 microM, respectively. p-Bromophenylacyl bromide (BPB) inhibits the phospholipase A2 activity of neutrophil acid extracts with an IC50 of 10 microM. In contrast, intact neutrophils incubated for up to 1 h with BPB, washed to remove the drug, and sonicated to expose the phospholipase A2, lose less than 20% of their activity. This strongly suggests that BPB does not inhibit neutrophil function by preventing phospholipase action.     

Retinoids inhibit the respiratory burst and degranulation of stimulated human polymorphonuclear leukocytes

Retinoids exhibit a wide spectrum of activities, including antiinflammatory properties. We have investigated the effect of retinoic acid (RA) and retinyl acetate (RAc) on the production of reactive oxygen metabolites and the release of lysosomal enzymes by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN). Incubation of PMN with RAc or RA (1–100 μM) caused a dose-dependent inhibition (upto 90%) in O ₂ ^? production and chemiluminescence induced by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), N-formyl-methionylleucyl-phenylanaline (fMLP), opsonized zymosan or ionophore A23187. Both retinoids (1–100 μM) also inhibited, in a dose-dependent way, degranulation induced by fMLP (upto 85% at the highest concentration of RA). These inhibitory effects appear irreversible, since they persist after the drugs are removed and the cells washed before stimulation. Inhibitors of cyclo-oxygenase activity such as acetylsalicylic acid and indomethacin did not influence the effects of RAc. In contrast, BW755, an inhibitor of both cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase, reversed the inhibitory action of RAc, suggesting that the effect of retinoids occurs possibly through the mediation of lipoxygenase products. The modulation of PMN oxidative metabolism and degranulation might help explain the antiinflammatory properties of retinoids.     

Horse eosinophil degranulation induced by the ionophore A23187. Ultrastructure and role of phospholipase A2

Horse eosinophils stimulated with the calcium ionophore A23187 were examined by transmission and scanning electron microscopy. Secretion was characterized by granule movement to the cell periphery and fusion of adjacent granules. The granules became swollen and less electron-dense as their contents were released into large intracellular vacuoles, which opened to the outside of the cell through surface pores. A23187-induced eosinophil peroxidase (EPO) release, as measured by guaiacol oxidation, was blocked by eicosa-5,8,11,14-tetraynoic acid (ETYA) (which inhibits both the cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways of arachidonic acid metabolism) but not by indomethacin (which inhibits only the cyclooxygenase pathway). Highly purified porcine phospholipase A2 induced noncytotoxic eosinophil degranulation (as measured by the release of EPO without the concomitant release of the cytoplasmic marker lactate dehydrogenase), which was blocked by pretreatment of the enzyme with the phospholipase A2 inhibitor 4-bromophenacyl bromide. These results suggest that calcium-dependent activation of phospholipase A2 and generation of lipoxygenase products of arachidonic acid metabolism are important in the initiation of eosinophil degranulation.     

Effect of recombinant DNA-produced tumor necrosis factor on various parameters of neutrophil function

The effect of recombinant DNA-produced human tumor necrosis factor (TNF) on various parameters of neutrophil function was evaluated. TNF was a weak direct activator of oxygen radical production. It released the specific granule contents to a limited extent, but the azurophilic granule contents were retained even in the presence of cytochalasin B. It had a chemotactic activity for neutrophils, as determined by the use of a modified Boyden's chamber. Pretreatment of neutrophils with TNF increased phagocytosis of opsonized particles and markedly potentiated in a dose-dependent manner oxygen radical production induced by opsonized zymosan. The inhibitors of lipoxygenase, but not those of cyclooxygenase, reduced the potentiating effect of TNF on phagocytosis, suggesting that the products of lipoxygenase play an important role in mediating the effect of TNF on neutrophils.     

Aspirin-sensitive asthma: abnormal platelet response to drugs inducing asthmatic attacks. Diagnostic and physiopathological implications

The pathogenesis of aspirin-sensitive asthma remains unknown. Using a new model of platelet activation, initially described as a response of platelets to IgE antibody-dependent stimuli, this study was designed to test the hypothesis of a possible involvement of platelets in aspirin-sensitive asthma. Washed platelets from 35 aspirin-sensitive asthmatics showed an abnormal in vitro response to cyclooxygenase inhibiting nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)--aspirin, indomethacin or flurbiprofen--characterized by the generation of a cytocidal supernatant and (14 patients explored) a burst of chemiluminescence; these drugs had no similar effect on platelets from 31 controls (p less than 0.0001). It was shown that the abnormal platelet response to NSAIDs was not mediated by IgE. In contrast to platelets, aspirin-sensitive asthmatic leukocytes generated neither cytocidal factors nor chemiluminescence in the presence of NSAIDs. Sodium salicylate and salicylamide, which, though structurally similar to aspirin, do not inhibit cyclooxygenase and are well tolerated by aspirin-sensitive asthmatics, did not activate their platelets to release cytocidal factors. Moreover, preincubation of platelets with sodium salicylate, salicylamide or prostaglandin endoperoxide PGH2, highly prevented their abnormal response to NSAIDs (greater than 80%; p less than 0.0001). Since several lipoxygenase inhibitors (NDGA, esculetin), including inhibitors of both cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase (ETYA, BW755c), did not activate patient platelets and prevented the subsequent abnormal response to NSAIDs, it is suggested that the abnormal platelet activation by NSAIDs is not only the consequence of an inhibition of cyclooxygenase, but also involves generation of lipoxygenase metabolites of arachidonate. Besides, platelets from 4 aspirin-sensitive asthmatics undergoing aspirin desensitization were found to have completely lost their abnormal responsiveness to NSAIDs. These findings represent the first identification in aspirin-intolerant asthmatics of a specific abnormal cellular response to drugs inducing asthmatic attacks and open new perspectives into the pathogenesis, prevention and diagnosis of this disease. They also provide support to the concept of a role for platelets in asthma.     

Interleukin-1 stimulates granule exocytosis from human neutrophils

The interaction of human polymorphonuclear neutrophilic leukocytes (neutrophils) with interleukin-1 (IL-1) resulted in a time- and concentration-dependent, selective, release of azurophil (myeloperoxidase, lysozyme) and specific (lysozyme, vitamin B12-binding protein) granule constituents. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) and lysozyme secretion was markedly attenuated if neutrophils were not exposed to cytochalasin B (CB) prior to contact with IL-1. Degranulation was significantly enhanced in the presence of extracellular calcium. IL-1-elicited granule exocytosis was inhibited by the intracellular calcium antagonist, 8-(N,N-diethylamino)-octyl-(3,4,5-trimethoxy) benzoate hydrochloride (TMB-8), a calmodulin antagonist, trifluoperazine (TFP), and an anion channel blocker, 4,4'-diisothiocyano-2,2'-disulfonic acid stilbene (DIDS). An evaluation of the role of arachidonic acid metabolites in IL-1-induced neutrophil activation revealed a suppressive effect on enzyme release exerted by the lipoxygenase inhibitors, piriprost potassium (6,9,deepoxy-6,9-(phenylimino)-delta 6,8 -prostaglandin I1, U-60,257B) and NDGA (nordihydroguaiaretic acid), and a cyclooxygenase/lipoxygenase inhibitor, ETYA (5,8,11,14-eicosatetraynoic acid). These data describe the characteristics of IL-1 as a human neutrophil secretagogue, and enhance our insight into the mechanism of inflammatory cell activation with this monokine.     

Reverse relationship between lysosomal-enzyme release and active-oxygen generation in stimulated human neutrophils

The relationship between the generation of active species of oxygen (O-2, H2O2 and OH.), chemiluminescence, and the release of lysosomal enzymes (lysozyme, alpha-mannosidase and beta-glucuronidase) was examined in human neutrophils stimulated with opsonized zymosan in the presence or absence of active-oxygen scavengers. In the absence of scavengers, increasing zymosan concn stimulated a marked increase in active-oxygen production in a concn-dependent manner and a less rigorously dose-dependent increase in enzyme secretion. Addition of OH. and/or 1O2 scavengers (benzoate, 1,4-diazo-bicyclo-2,2,2-octane or xanthine) caused a marked increase in enzyme release and a decrease in the generation of active-oxygen species except O-2 and H2O2. These findings suggest that exocytosis of lysosomal enzymes by stimulated neutrophils might be attenuated by the active generation of OH. and chemiluminescence. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) at low concns inhibited lysosomal enzyme release while promoting OH formation; and SOD at high concns decreased OH. and O-2 formation and chemiluminescence, accompanied by higher levels of lysosomal enzyme release. Catalase showed an effect similar to that of SOD. Our data suggest that the reduction by scavengers of active-oxygen levels, particularly of the species detected in the OH. and chemiluminescence assays, results in an increase in lysosomal enzyme release.     

Pharmacological modification of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate induced inflammation and epidermal cell proliferation in mouse skin

Topical application of TPA to mouse skin causes oedema (2–6 h) neutrophil influx (3–24 h) and epidermal cell proliferation (24–48 h). Topical application of a cyclooxygenase inhibitor (indomethacin) dual cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase inhibitors (phenidone and BW 755C) a selective lipoxygenase inhibitor (AA 861), protein synthesis inhibitors (cycloheximide and actinomycin D) or a glucocorticosteroid (prednisolone) inhibited oedema and neutrophil influx. Systemic administration of an inhibitor of microtubule assembly (colchicine) also prevented neutrophil influx and oedema. These results suggest that the inflammatory response to TPA depends on an interaction between a protein and products of arachidonic acid metabolism to produce a neutrophil dependent oedema. Epidermal cell proliferation was inhibited by topical administration of prednisolone, indomethacin, BW 755C and cycloheximide but not systemically administered methotrexate. This suggests that inhibition of the early inflammatory response to TPA prevents the subsequent epidermal proliferation.     

Neutrophil response to LIF

Effects of glucocorticoids on human neutrophil responses to leukocyte migration inhibition factor (LIF) and neutrophil chemokinesis were examined using an agarose gel technique. The roles of endogenous monohydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids (HETE) and prostaglandins (PG) in basal neutrophil chemokinesis were also examined. Methylprednisolone sodium succinate (MPSS) in concentrations up to 200 μg/ml failed to inhibit the neutrophil response to LIF. MPSS enhanced neutrophil chemokinesis in a dose-related manner at concentrations from 2 μg/ml to 200 μg/ml (P < 0.01). Since inhibition of membrane phospholipase activity by MPSS is known to decrease production of HETE and PG, the present data suggest that HETE and PG do not mediate basal neutrophil chemokinesis. This was confirmed by selectively inhibiting HETE production with the lipoxygenase inhibitor nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) or PG production with the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin. Neutrophil chemokinesis was unaffected by 10^?5 M NDGA (P< 0.05) or 10^?5 indomethacin (P < 0.05).     

Indomethacin stimulation of macrophage cytostasis against MOPC-315 tumor cells is enhanced by endogenous metabolites of lipoxygenase and counteracted by prostaglandin E2

Conclusions We have shown that indomethacin stimulation of macrophage cytostasis against MOPC-315 tumor cells can be counteracted by PGE₂ and by the lipoxygenase inhibitor NDGA. The results are congruent with the earlier finding, which showed that LTD₄ reinforces the effect of indomethacin on macrophage cytostasis, which thus is modulated by the balance between cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase metabolites.     

Reversal of virus-induced alveolar macrophage bactericidal dysfunction by cyclooxygenase inhibition in vitro

Virus infection of alveolar macrophages (AM) both in vivo and in vitro has been associated with a decreased ability of these cells to kill bacteria, together with enhanced production of metabolites of arachidonic acid. These metabolites, especially PGE2, may be inhibitory to some phagocyte functions. Primary cultures of bovine AM obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage of normal cattle were infected in vitro with parainfluenza-3 (PI3 virus) virus. Killing of Staphylococcus epidermidis by AM was determined on days 1-4 post-infection (p.i.) PI3 virus-infected AM killed significantly fewer bacteria on day 4 p.i. compared to uninfected controls (12.1 +/- 1.3% infected vs. 52.7 +/- 7.2% controls, P less than or equal to 0.05). Bacterial killing by virus-infected AM, but not control AM, was significantly enhanced on day 4 p.i. by addition of cyclooxygenase inhibitors 1 hr prior to bactericidal assay (28.0 +/- 4.5% indomethacin, 36.0 +/- 4.1% mefenamic acid, 38.6 +/- 7.3% piroxicam, 37.0 +/- 6.4% NDGA, 44.9 +/- 7.7% ETYA, P less than or equal to 0.05). Phagocytosis of opsonized sheep erythrocytes and superoxide generation by virus-infected AM were not significantly increased by cyclooxygenase inhibition. Phagosome-lysosome fusion was severely impaired in virus-infected AM. Pretreatment of virus-infected AM with indomethacin significantly enhanced the percentage of cell expressing fusion activity. This data suggests that in vitro bactericidal dysfunction associated with virus infection of AM is partially the result of enhanced production of prostaglandins or thromboxane by AM and/or an abnormal response to normal levels of endogenously produced cyclooxygenase metabolites. The data further indicate the presence of cyclooxygenase sensitive (phagosome-lysosome fusion) and insensitive (phagocytic) components of virus-induced bactericidal dysfunction in AM.