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Inflammation and the mechanism of action of anti‐inflammatory drugs
Author(s) -
Vane John,
Botting Regina
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.1.2.3111928
Subject(s) - histamine , inflammation , bradykinin , phospholipase a2 , pharmacology , rheumatoid arthritis , arachidonic acid , medicine , allergic inflammation , mechanism of action , arthritis , leukotriene , allergy , immunology , platelet activating factor , chemistry , receptor , asthma , enzyme , biochemistry , in vitro
Inflammation is caused by release of chemicals from tissues and migrating cells. Most strongly implicated are the prostaglandins (PGs), leukotrienes (LTs), histamine, bradykinin, and, more recently, platelet‐activating factor (PAF) and interleukin‐1. Evidence for their involvement comes from studies with competitive antagonists for their receptors and inhibitors of their synthesis. H 1 histamine antagonists are effective for hay fever and some skin allergies such as urticaria, which indicates the importance of histamine in these conditions. Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis are alleviated by the aspirinlike anti‐inflammatory drugs, which inhibit the cyclo‐oxygenase enzyme and reduce synthesis of prostanoids. Corticosteroids prevent the formation of both PGs and LTs by causing the release of lipocortin, which by inhibition of phospholipase A 2 reduces arachidonic acid release. They suppress the inflammation of rheumatoid arthritis and asthma. Currently, high doses of nonsedating H 1 antihistamines and PAF antagonists are being tested for the treatment of allergic asthma.—V ane , J.; B otting , R. Inflammation and the mechanism of action of anti‐inflammatory drugs. FASEB J. 1: 89‐96; 1987.