Cyclosporin A--a pre-recruitment action in the cutaneous response?

Mononuclear cell accumulation in rat skin sites, over a 24 h period following intradermal injections of concanavalin A (Con A) and carrageenan, was quantitated using an isotopic technique. Cyclosporin A (CS-A) inhibited the accumulation of [51Cr]-labelled blood mononuclear cells into cutaneous reactions to Con A but not carrageenan reactions in the same animals. Conversely, indomethacin or cobra venom factor inhibited cell accumulation into carrageenan-induced lesion, whilst leaving infiltration into Con A reactions unimpaired. Since CS-A did not show a general anti-inflammatory effect, it is suggested that this compound reduces cell accumulation by inhibiting the local release of lymphokines in vivo.