Effects of indomethacin on the L-selectin expression in humans.

Author(s): Dirnberger E, Albinni S, Roggla M, Jilma B

Affiliation(s): Department of Cinical Pharmacology-TARGET, Department of Emergency Medicine, Vienna University School of Medicine, Wahringer Gurtel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.

Publication date & source: 2001-11, Scand J Immunol., 54(5):525-7.

Publication type: Clinical Trial; Randomized Controlled Trial

Based on an in vitro study and an uncontrolled in vivo trial we examined the effects of indomethacin on the expression of L-selectin by leukocytes in healthy volunteers. Eight subjects received infusions of 0.7 mg/kg indomethacin and placebo t.i.d. (three times daily) in a randomized, controlled trial. Indomethacin decreased the mean fluorescence intensity of the L-selectin expression on isolated neutrophils incubated with toxic indomethacin concentrations. However, indomethacin did not lower the L-selectin expression in whole blood or in-vivo. Thus, therapeutic doses of the cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor indomethacin do not lower the L-selectin expression on leukocytes. Hence, the inhibition of cyclo-oxygenase cannot explain the previously observed dexamethasone-induced decrease in L-selectin.