Aspirin-like drugs inhibit arachidonic acid metabolism via lipoxygenase and cyclo-oxygenase in rat neutrophils from carrageenan pleural exudates

Aspirin-like drugs inhibit the metabolism of arachidonic acid via lipoxygenase and cyclo-oxygenase in rat neutrophils from carrageenan pleural exudates. These non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs inhibit the formation of 11-hydroxy- and 15-hydroxy-eicosatetraenoic acid (HETE) as well as prostaglandins. In addition, the concentration- and time-dependent irreversible inhibition of lipoxygenase by aspirin and indomethacin parallels closely the patterns observed for inhibition of cyclo-oxygenase. The results suggest that some common steps may exist for the synthesis of HETE and prostaglandins from arachidonic acid in rat neutrophils. The ability of aspirin-like drugs to inhibit the formation of the chemotactic hydroxy-fatty acids may contribute to their anti-inflammatory activity.