Effects of antirheumatic drugs on leukotriene B4 and prostanoid synthesis in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes in vitro

The effects of D-penicillamine, sodium aurothiomalate, indomethacin, timegadine and tolfenamic acid on the lipoxygenase and cyclo-oxygenase pathways of arachidonic acid metabolism were studied in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) in vitro. In short-term incubations, D-penicillamine and aurothiomalate did not affect leukotriene B4 (LTB4), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) or thromboxane B2 (TXB2) production. Each of the three non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) used were potent inhibitors of prostanoid synthesis. In higher concentrations they also reduced LTB4 production; timegadine and tolfenamic acid were effective in concentrations comparable to those measured in plasma during drug therapy, whereas indomethacin was needed in ten times higher concentrations. The different effects of NSAIDs on 5-lipoxygenase activity may be of importance in their therapeutic actions as well as in the appearance of some side-effects, e.g. gastric irritation and "aspirin-induced" asthma.