1-[4-[3-[4-[bis(4-fluorophenyl)hydroxymethyl]-1- piperidinyl]propoxy]-3-methoxyphenyl]ethanone(AHR-5333): a selective human blood neutrophil 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor

In this study we report the in vitro inhibition of leukotriene synthesis in calcium ionophore (A23187)-stimulated, intact human blood neutrophils by AHR-5333. The results showed that AHR-5333 inhibits 5-HETE, LTB4 and LTC4 synthesis with IC50 values of 13.9, 13.7 and 6.9 microM, respectively. Further examination of the effect of AHR-5333 on individual reactions of the 5-lipoxygenase pathway (i.e. conversion of LTA4 to LTB4, LTA4 to LTC4, and arachidonic acid to 5-HETE) showed that this agent was not inhibitory to LTA4 epoxyhydrolase and glutathione-S-transferase activity in neutrophil homogenates. However, conversion of arachidonic acid (30 microM) to 5-HETE was half maximally inhibited by 20 microM AHR-5333 in the cell-free system. The inhibition of LTB4 and LTC4 formation in intact neutrophils by AHR-5333 appears to be entirely due to a selective inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase activity and an impaired formation of LTA4, which serves as substrate for LTA4 epoxyhydrolase and glutathione-S-transferase. AHR-5333 did not affect the transformation of exogenous arachidonic acid to thromboxane B2, HHT and 12-HETE in preparations of washed human platelets, indicating that this agent has no effect on platelet prostaglandin H synthase, thromboxane synthase and 12-lipoxygenase activity. The lack of inhibitory activity of AHR-5333 on prostaglandin H synthase activity was confirmed with microsomal preparations of sheep vesicular glands.