Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

1. The effects of sulphasalazine, 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA), sulphapyridine and azodisalicylic acid (ADS) in vitro on the natural killer (NK) activity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (MNC) have been examined and compared with those of the lipoxygenase inhibitor, nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) and the cyclooxygenase inhibitor, indomethacin. 2. Sulphasalazine, sulphapyridine and ADS inhibited NK activity with 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50) of 0.7, 2.5 and 4.0 mmol/l respectively. The effect was rapidly reversible. In contrast, 5-ASA minimally inhibited NK activity at 50 mmol/l only. 3. NDGA potently inhibited NK activity (IC50 27 μmol/l) but this was only partly reversible in short term incubations. Indomethacin had no effect at concentrations less than those inhibiting cyclo-oxygenase activity (1-10 μmol/l) but potently and reversibly inhibited NK activity at or above 25 μmol/l. 4. The inhibitory effects observed were unlikely to be due to direct toxicity of effector cells as 5-ASA, sulphapyridine and ADS had no effect on the viability of peripheral blood MNC, whereas NDGA and indomethacin lysed MNC only at maximal concentrations tested. Though sulphasalazine produced MNC lysis at and above 1 mmol/l, the rapid reversibility of the inhibition of NK activity at 1 mmol/l suggested that lysis of NK cells contributed little to the suppressive effect at this concentration. 5. The disparity of the therapeutic efficacy and effects on NK activity of sulphasalazine and its derivatives in vitro may suggest that NK activity is not a major pathogenic mechanism in ulcerative colitis. Any inhibitory effect on cellular immune function of indomethacin does not necessarily reflect an effect of cyclo-oxygenase inhibition.

Original publication

DOI

10.1042/cs0690177

Type

Journal article

Journal

Clinical Science

Publisher

Portland Press Ltd.

Publication Date

01/08/1985

Volume

69

Pages

177 - 184