Inhibition of the arachidonic acid cascade by norathyriol via blockade of cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase activity in neutrophils

Recent studies have suggested that dual inhibitors of cyclooxygenase (COX) and lipoxygenase (LO) may be more beneficial in the treatment of inflammatory diseases in which platelet-leukocyte interaction dominates the underlying inflammatory process, than inhibitors of COX or LO alone. In this study, we examined oxygenated xanthones, shown previously to inhibit platelet and neutrophil activation, with respect to the potency of COX inhibition. 1,3,6,7-Tetrahydroxyxanthone (norathyriol) was the most potent. Norathyriol suppressed thromboxane B₂ (TXB₂) and leukotriene B₄ (LTB₄) formation in calcium ionophore (A23187)- and formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP)-stimulated rat neutrophils. Norathyriol was 3–4 times more active against LTB₄ formation than against TXB₂ formation (IC₅₀ about 2.8 vs. 10 µM, respectively). Norathyriol also inhibited prostaglandin D₂ (PGD₂) formation in A23187-stimulated rat mast cells (IC₅₀ 3.0±1.2 µM) and in arachidonic acid (AA)-activated mast cell lysate. Norathyriol was a more effective inhibitor of 5-LO activity than of COX, as shown also by analyses of enzyme activities in a cell-free system, of COX and 5-LO metabolic capacity in neutrophils and of ex vivo TXB₂ and LTB₄ formation in A23187-stimulated neutrophils. Moreover, norathyriol inhibited COX-2 and 12-LO with IC₅₀ values (19.6±1.5 and 1.2±0.1 µM, respectively) similar to those required for the inhibition of COX-1 and 5-LO (16.2±1.5 and 1.8±0.4 µM, respectively). Inhibition of 15-LO by norathyriol was slightly less active. Norathyriol had no effect on A23187-induced AA release from neutrophils and did not affect phospholipase A₂ (PLA₂) activity in a cell-free system. These results indicate that norathyriol inhibits the formation of PGs and LTs in neutrophils probably through direct blockade of COX and 5-LO activities. Norathyriol, a single molecule with multiple targets, might provide a potential therapeutic benefit in the treatment of inflammatory diseases.