The induction of ornithine decarboxylase caused by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate in isolated epidermal cells is inhibited by lipoxygenase inhibitors but not by cyclooxygenase inhibitors

The effects of lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase inhibitors on ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) induction by a potent tumor promoter, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) were examined in vitro in isolated mouse epidermal cells. Lipoxygenase inhibitors such as quercetin, nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA), 3,4,2',4'-tetrahydroxychalcone, 3-amino-1-(3-trifluoromethylphenyl)-2-pyrazoline (BW755C) inhibited the TPA-caused ODC induction. Indomethacin, a selective cyclooxygenase inhibitor, failed to inhibit it. These results suggest that the lipoxygenase inhibitors inhibit TPA-caused epidermal ODC induction in mouse skin at least in part by acting directly on epidermal cells while cyclooxygenase inhibitor inhibits it indirectly by acting on cells other than epidermal cells, e.g. cells which are involved in the prostaglandin-dependent inflammatory process.