In vitro and in vivo effects of piroxicam on rat polymorphonuclear responsiveness after induction of two acute non-specific inflammatory reactions.

The effect of piroxicam on rat polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMN) has been studied in vitro and in vivo after the induction of two acute, non specific inflammatory reactions (pleurisies induced by calcium pyrophosphate crystals (CaPP) or isologous serum). An inhibition of chemotaxis by piroxicam has been demonstrated by two techniques, the filter and agarose assays in vivo and in vitro. An inhibition of random cell migration has been observed only at the higher drug concentration using agarose assay with CaPP-elicited cells. Piroxicam also inhibited superoxide anion generation and O2 consumption of CaPP- and serum-elicited cells. These findings suggest that piroxicam may have a direct effect on PMN responses and that this activity could, at least in part, contribute to its anti-inflammatory properties.