Inflammatory, tumor initiating and promoting activities of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and diterpene esters in mouse skin as compared with their prostaglandin releasing potency in vitro.

Release of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in cultured peritoneal macrophages of NMRI mice by skin irritant tumor initiators and promoters was investigated. Initiators of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon type, e.g., DMBA, caused slight irritation on the mouse ear but even relatively high doses did not stimulate PGE2-release to any measurable extent within 4 h after administration in vitro. Apparently there is no correlation between irritation and initiating activity in mouse skin and PGE2-release in macrophages. On the other hand, promoters of the diterpene ester type, e.g., TPA, were strong irritants on the mouse ear. Even low doses of these compounds stimulated PGE2-release from macrophages dramatically within 1 h after administration in vitro. Moreover, a good correlation was established between irritant and promoting activity in mouse skin and PGE2-release in macrophages of a series of tigliane, ingenane and daphnane type diterpene derivatives. These results suggest that also in mouse skin PGE2-release may occur following exposure of the target cells to promoters of the diterpene ester type resembling one of the most early molecular events of promotion. This event could initiate both skin irritation and cell proliferation.