[Lipoxygenase inhibitors induce rat hepatocyte apoptosis in primary culture].

Arachidonic acid metabolites have been shown to have a wide range of effects on cell proliferation and viability. In this study, the effects of lipoxygenase (LO) inhibitors nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) and caffeic acid (CA) on the viability of cultured rat hepatocytes (HC) were investigated. As a result, treatment with NDGA and CA for 4 h and 24 h decreased ALT release from HC and increased a number of apoptotic cells. Apoptosis inducing effects of general LO inhibitor NDGA were more pronounced, than those of 5-LO inhibitor CA. The results suggest that lipoxygenase pathway of arachidonic acid metabolism, in particular 5-LO, is essential regulator of hepatocyte survival and apoptosis.