Immunopathology of NSAID-Gastropathy: Inhibitory Effectsn of Interleukin-I and Cyclosporin A

Abstract
The present study demonstrates that CSA is capable of inhibiting indomethacin-induced leukocyte adherence to the vascular endothelium, and can reduce the severity of indomethacin-induced gastric mucosal injury. These results are therefore consistent with the hypothesis that leukocyte (particularly neutrophil) adherence is a critical event in the pathogenesis of NSAID-induced gastropathy. The mechanism through which CSA inhibits leukocyte adherence is not clear, and warrants further investigation. This study also confirmed the protective effects of IL-1 in experimental NSAID-gastropathy, and demonstrates that one of the ways the IL-1 may protect the mucosa is through its ability to inhibit the release of proinflammatory mediators (e.g., PAF) and promote the release of antiinflammatory mediators (e.g., nitric oxide). IL-1 modulated the release of these mediators from peritoneal mast cells at doses in the pg/ml to ng/ml range. IL-1 can inhibit the ability of neutrophils to respond to chemotactic stimuli and can prevent LTB4-induced neutropenia. Inhibition of neutrophil function by IL-1 may therefore account for its ability to reduce NSAID-induced gastric mucosal injury. Whether or not effects of IL-1 on the production of mediators such as nitric oxide and PAF is an underlying mechanism for the inhibitory effects on neutrophil function remains to be determined.