Effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on lymphocyte activation

Guinea-pig lymph node lymphocytes were stimulated with mitogen (phytohaemagglutinin) in vitro and lymphocyte activation was measured by tritiated thymidine incorporation (DNA synthesis). Inclusion of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in the culture medium at therapeutic concentrations, frequently exerted an inhibitory effect. Such inhibition could not be attributed to the ability of these drugs to inhibit cyclo-oxygenase or lipoxygenase enzymes. Inhibition by salicylates was not associated with cytotoxic or cytopathic effects, since inhibition was only evident when the drugs were included in the early phase of culture. Other NSAIDs exhibited varying degrees of toxicity, which in some instances may account for observed inhibition. The effects on lymphocyte activation of selective inhibitors of pathways of arachidonic acid metabolism, do not support the proposition that the generation of prostaglandins, thromboxanes, leukotrienes or related compounds is an obligatory step during lymphocyte activation.