BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Arachidonic acid derivatives play a central role in inflammation processes. Arachidonic acid is metabolized by several enzymes, particularly cyclooxygenases (COX), 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) and microsomal prostaglandin E-synthase-1 (mPGES-1) to pro-inflammatory mediators. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH We determined the effect of LP105, a pirinixic acid derivative which acts as inhibitor of 5-LOX, COX and mPGES-1, on aortic aneurysm development in mice and on 5-LOX activity in murine monocytes. KEY RESULTS In a monocyte cell line (RAW264.7), LP105 inhibited 5-LOX in whole cells (IC(50) : 1-3 µM) and in supernatants (IC(50) : ∼10 µM). Oral administration of LP105 to mice resulted in therapeutic tissue and plasma levels. Aortic aneurysms were induced in ApoE(-/-) mice by angiotensin II (AngII) and LP105 (5 mg·day(-1) per animal) was co-administered to a subgroup. Compared with animals receiving AngII alone, the LP105+AngII group showed a lower heart rate, a trend towards reduced heart to body weight ratio but similar hypertensive responses. AngII alone significantly increased aortic weight and diameter but co-treatment with LP105+AngII prevented these changes. LC/MS-MS studies revealed increased 15-hydroxytetraenoic acid (15-HETE) and 14,15-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid (14,15-EET) plasma levels in LP105-treated animals. In the murine kidney, mRNAs of EET-generating or metabolizing enzymes and of 5-LOX and 15-LOX were unaffected by LP105. LP105 also did not inhibit the EET-metabolizing soluble epoxide hydrolase. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS LP105 was a potent inhibitor of monocyte 5-LOX and reduced AngII-induced vascular remodelling in mice. A shift of arachidonic acid metabolism to the protective EET pathway may contribute to the beneficial effects of LP105.
© 2011 The Authors. British Journal of Pharmacology © 2011 The British Pharmacological Society.