Prostaglandins as Potentiators of Increased Vascular Permeability in Inflammation (original) (raw)

Nature volume 246, pages 215–217 (1973)Cite this article

Abstract

PROSTAGLANDINS are released in inflammatory reactions in animals1 and in man2. The observation that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents inhibit prostaglandin synthesis _in vitro_3,4 and _in vivo_5, and that the comparative potency of these anti-inflammatory compounds is the same in vitro and in vivo as inhibitors of carrageenin-induced oedema6, suggests that prostaglandins may have an important role in inflammation. Prostaglandins (E1, E2, F1α and F2α) evoke increased vascular permeability in the skin of rat and man7, which appears to be an indirect effect resulting from mast cell degranulation. The lack of potency of prostaglandins in causing increased vascular permeability on intradermal injection in the guinea pig8 has, however, received little attention. We have confirmed this observation (Fig. 1, Table 1) and conclude that in the guinea pig prostaglandins cannot be regarded as chemical mediators which act directly on the vascular endothelium as do histamine, serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine) and bradykinin. We have therefore investigated a possible alternative role for prostaglandins in inflammatory mechanisms.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Applied Physiology, Division of Immunology, The Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, Bute Gardens, Hammersmith, London, W6
    T. J. WILLIAMS & J. MORLEY

Authors

  1. T. J. WILLIAMS
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  2. J. MORLEY
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WILLIAMS, T., MORLEY, J. Prostaglandins as Potentiators of Increased Vascular Permeability in Inflammation.Nature 246, 215–217 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1038/246215a0

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