A comparative study on the effects of inhibitors of the lipoxygenase pathway on neutrophil function. Inhibitory effects on neutrophil function may not be attributed to inhibition of the lipoxygenase pathway.

The effects of five inhibitors of the lipoxygenase pathway were evaluated on oxygen radical production, degranulation, chemotaxis, leukotriene B4 (LTB4) production by neutrophils. The lipoxygenase inhibitors tested were nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA), esculetin, eicosatetraynoic acid (ETYA), 2-(12-hydroxydodeca-5,10-diynyl)-3,5,6-trimethyl-1,4-benzoqu inone (AA-861), and 6,9-deepoxy-6, 9-(phenylimino)-delta 6.8-prostaglandin I1 (U-60,257). Neutrophils were activated by n-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP), phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), A23187, or platelet activating factor (PAF). The effects of these inhibitors on NADPH oxidase activity and phospholipase A2 activity of isolated particulate fraction of neutrophils were also evaluated. ETYA inhibited neutrophil function induced by all the stimulators except PMA. AA-681 was unique in that it did not inhibit PAF-induced neutrophil activation. U-60,257 had virtually no effect on oxygen radical production and degranulation, but chemotaxis was moderately suppressed. NDGA effectively inhibited neutrophil function, except for chemotaxis. Esculetin inhibited only oxygen radical production, but this was due to inhibition on NADPH oxidase activity of neutrophil membrane. The inhibitory effect on neutrophil function and that of LTB4 production were not closely correlated. It is suggested that lipoxygenase inhibitors may modify neutrophil function by the mechanism not involving the lipoxygenase pathway. It is also suggested that LTB4 may not be a mediator in neutrophil oxygen radical production and degranulation induced by the stimulators used in the present study.