Effects of sulfinpyrazone and its metabolite G25671 on platelet activation and desensitization and on bronchoconstriction induced by the prostaglandin endoperoxide analog U46619.

Sulfinpyrazone (100 microM) and its thioether metabolite G25671 (50 microM) suppressed arachidonic acid-induced platelet aggregation, thromboxane (Tx) B2 formation and ATP release. Platelet activation by the endoperoxide analog U46619 also was prevented by sulfinpyrazone or G25671 (0.3-1 mM). Previous studies have shown that human platelets pre-exposed to arachidonic acid or to U46619 and then washed and resuspended failed to respond to a second challenge by both arachidonic acid and U46619; desensitization by arachidonic acid and U46619 occurred at a site sensitive to endoperoxides/Tx receptor antagonists; and the desensitizing effects of U46619 were direct, whereas those of arachidonic acid were mediated by a cyclooxygenase-dependent metabolite. We now demonstrate that the presence of sulfinpyrazone or G25671 during platelet exposure to arachidonic acid or U46619 prevented desensitization. We also studied the threshold aggregating concentration of arachidonic acid and U46619 in healthy subjects before and after treatment with sulfinpyrazone and we found a good correlation between ex vivo and in vitro findings. We finally examined the actions of sulfinpyrazone and G25671 on the bronchoconstriction in vivo and parenchymal lung strip contraction in vitro induced by U46619. Neither drug had any preventive effect. Our results demonstrate that sulfinpyrazone and its metabolite G25671 are not only cyclooxygenase inhibitors but can also act as endoperoxide/Tx antagonists and indicate clearly that antagonism of U46619 by both drugs is selective for platelets.