Correlation between in vitro and in vivo models in anti-inflammatory drug studies

Interaction of salicylates and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents in rats as shown by gastro-ulcerogenic and anti-inflammatory activities, and plasma concentrations

The interaction of salicylates and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs was studied in rats. Concurrent oral administration of sodium salicylate (SS) or salicylic acid (SA) and indomethacin (IND) significantly reduced the gastro-ulcerogenicity and the plasma concentrations of IND. Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) failed to do so. IND had no significant influence on plasma concentrations of SA. Simultaneous administration of SS and IND intraperitoneally or subcutaneously showed the same pattern of interaction as for oral administration. Concurrent oral administration of SS and IND exerted similar anti-inflammatory activity as the single drugs. SS significantly antagonized the ulcerogenicity of ibuprofen and tended to antagonize the ulcerogenic activity of ASA, phenylbutazone, tolfenamic acid and naproxen. The results suggest that in rats SS and SA (but not ASA) interact with IND concerning both gastro-ulcerogenicity and plasma concentrations of IND (but not of SA) and that the interaction is systemic in nature. We propose that the ulcerogenic interaction might be explained partly by the reduced IND plasma concentrations and partly by a weaker inhibition by SS of the prostaglandin system in the rat stomach.

Inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis in vivo by nonsteroid anti-inflammatory drugs: evidence for the importance of pharmacokinetics

A variety of acidic and non-acidic compounds are potent inhibitors of prostaglandin (PG) synthesis in vitro. However, only a few, namely the acidic nonsteroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) are useful anti-inflammatory analgesics in the clinic. Since inhibition of PG-synthesis is believed to be the main target of NSAID in inflammation this superiority of acidic compounds remains unexplained. We have considered that one explanation could be that only acidic NSAID appear in high concentrations in inflamed tissue to inhibit PG-synthesis sufficiently. To test this hypothesis the following experiments were carried out: (A) PG-synthesis and its inhibition by acidic and non-acidic NSAID was measured in vivo at the site of inflammation. It was found that in therapeutic doses only acidic NSAID were capable to reduce PG-synthesis significantly. (B) Measurement of drug concentration in inflamed tissue showed that only acidic NSAID were found in significantly higher concentrations in inflamed than in control tissue. From these observations it is concluded that a specific pharmacokinetic behaviour of acidic NSAID leading to high concentrations in inflamed tissue is a decisive aspect of their anti-inflammatory action.