Indomethacin esters acting as anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive drugs.

Administration of indomethacin and ten different indomethacin derivatives led to a variable depression in the mice immume response to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) as shown either by direct hemolytic-plaque assay or hemagglutination tests. Compounds with a lower toxicity than indomethacin and predominant immunosuppressive or anti-inflammatory activity were obtained. According to the variations in the primary immune response and to their variable anti-inflammatory actions, the structure-activity relationships are documentted and some possible explanations, relative to their immunodepressive effect, are discussed.