Treatment of experimental granulomatous uveitis by lipoxygenase and cyclo-oxygenase inhibitors
N. A. Rao, R. Patchett, M. A. Fernandez, A. Sevanian, S. L. Kunkel and G. E. Marak Jr
Lens-induced granulomatous uveitis was produced in brown Norway rats. To
determine the role of the lipoxygenase and cyclo-oxygenase products of
arachidonic acid in the modulation of granulomatous uveitis, one group of
experimental animals was treated with nafazatrom, while another group was
treated with nordihydroguaiaretic acid (lipoxygenase inhibitors). Both
resulted in significant attenuation of granulomatous inflammation, with
reduced giant-cell infiltration into the choroid. In contrast, indomethacin
(a cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor) therapy resulted in increased giant-cell
formation. These findings suggest that the lipoxygenase and cyclo-oxygenase
products of arachidonic acid play a role in the development of
granulomatous uveitis and that such inflammation can be selectively
suppressed by lipoxygenase inhibitors.
