Biology and pharmacology of recombinant human interleukin-1β-induced rat ear inflammation

A single, 10 ng intradermal injection of human recombinant interleukin-1 (rIL-1) into rat ears produced acute inflammation. Tissue wet weight (edema) and total myeloperoxidase activity (PMN accumulation), peaked at 3 hours and returned to base line at 3 days. Given orally, 1 hour prior to rIL-1 injection, cyproheptadine, dexamethasone, conventional NSAID's, or mixed cyclooxygenase/lipoxygenase inhibitors were potent antagonists of edema and moderate antagonists of PMN accumulation. In addition, the putative DMARD's, auranofin, dapsone, and levamisole were effective inhibitors of rIL-1 induced inflammation.