D-penicillamine effects on prostanoid production in adherent rheumatic synovial cells in primary culture

Abstract

The effect of D-penicillamine (DPA) on immunoreactive prostanoid concentrations was studied in a primary culture of adherent synovial cells from patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis (RA). DPA in clinically achievable concentrations increased the levels of prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2) and thromboxane B2 (TXB 2) and reduced those of 6-keto-prostaglandin F 1α (6-keto-PGF 1α) synthetized from endogenous substrate. The capacity for PGE 2 and 6-keto-PGF 1α production in the presence of exogenous arachidonic acid was decreased by DPA. These effects may be connected with the antirheumatic and immunosuppressive action of DPA.