Main description:

Since prostaglandins were first proposed as mediators of in flammation some eight years ago, there have been a variety of arachidonic acid metabolites discovered including the thromboxa nes, prostacyclin, prostaglandin endoperoxides and lipoxygenase products such as SRS-A. All of them have subsequently been shown to have significant and specific biological activities not only in inflammatory responses but also in other physiological pro cesses. The explosion of research in this area has been an indi cation of the importance of this field but has also meant that it is time for an evaluation of activities of prostaglandins and products of the arachidonate pathway - collectively described as eicosanoids. For this reason the organizers of this conference felt it was timely to bring together workers in the field and critically evaluate some aspects of the role of different eico sanoids in inflammatory responses and the action of the anti inflammatory agents drugs used to modulate or inhibit these responses. The conference held at King's College Hospital Medical School produced lively and constructive discussions. While there are still many complexities to be investigated several important conclusions did emerge. The organizers were grateful to have the use of facilities at Normanby College and King's College Hospi tal. Also we would like to thank the Boots Company Ltd. , for generous sponsorship and Mrs. P. Carter for valuable secretarial assistance. K. D. Rainsford A. W. Ford-Hutchinson M. J. H. Smith Organizers. Lewis 7 INTRODUCTION TO PROSTAGLANDINS AND INFLAMMATION G. P.

Contents:

one: Metabolism of Arachidonic Acid.- Pathways of arachidonic acid metabolism.- Slow-reacting substances of anaphylaxis: studies on purification and characterization.- Slow-reacting substances of anaphylaxis - a commentary.- Peroxidase reactions during prostaglandin biosynthesis and their relationship to inflammation.- Plasma levels of immunoreactive 15-keto-13,14-dihydrothromboxane B2 in guinea pigs during anaphylaxis and after histamine injection.- two: Prostaglandins as Mediators of Acute Inflammation and Pain.- Prostaglandins as mediators of inflammation-vascular aspects.- Effects of prostaglandins on peripheral nociceptors in acute inflammation.- Prostaglandins as mediators of pyrexia.- Models of acute inflammation - a commentary.- Prostaglandins and the polymorphonuclear leucocyte.- New vistas on the role of platelets in bronchoconstrictions.- Summing-up.- three: Prostaglandins and Chronic Inflammation.- Distribution and further studies on the activity of prostaglandin E in chronic granulomatous inflammation.- Prostaglandins and chronic inflammation.- Macrophages responding to inflammatory stimuli synthesize increased amounts of prostaglandins.- Prostaglandins and macrophages.- four: Effects of Anti-Inflammatory Drugs on Prostaglandin Production.- Prostaglandin release from macrophages: Modulation by anti-inflammatory drugs.- Arachidonic acid metabolism in inflammation and the mode of action of anti-inflammatory drugs.- Some medicinal chemical aspects of prostaglandin synthesis inhibitors.- The guinea-pig isolated ileum as a model for the study of prostaglandin interactions with anti-inflammatory drugs.- five: Prostaglandins and Side-Effects of Anti-Inflammatory Drugs.- Prostaglandins and the development of gastric mucosal damage by anti-inflammatory drugs.- Prostaglandins and gastro-intestinal damage - a comment.- Prostaglandins and the side-effects of anti-inflammatory drugs - the kidney.- Summing-up.