Inhibition of phospholipase A2 purified from human herniated disc.

The effect on human herniated intervertebral disc phospholipase A2 (HD-PLA2) of a number of retinoids, antirheumatic drugs and reported PLA2 inhibitors was evaluated using autoclaved [1-14C]-oleate-labeled Escherichia coli membranes as the substrate. Dexamethasone, non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs, aristolochic acid and retinol were inactive, whereas a marked inhibition was found for manoalide, retinal, nordihydroguaiaretic acid and p-bromophenacyl bromide after preincubation with the enzyme (IC50 values 0.25, 4, 5 and 5 microM, respectively). The results are parallel to those obtained with the PLA2 purified from human synovial fluid.