Airway smooth muscle relaxations induced by dipyrone

Dipyrone differs from other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs with a distinctive spasmolytic effect; however, the mechanism of action is not clear yet. The possible mechanism behind this effect was investigated on airway smooth muscle tone in vitro.

The effect of dipyrone on inositol phosphate (IP) accumulation was evaluated on guinea pig trachea smooth muscle. Changes in intracellular free calcium levels and IP accumulation were evaluated in LTK8 cells.

Dipyrone (0.01, 0.1, 1 mmol/l) had a relaxing effect on histamine (0.02 mmol/l)- and adenosine triphosphate- (ATP) (0.01 mol/l)-induced contractions, but not potassium chloride (KCl)-stimulated contractions. This relaxing effect was not observed with indomethacin. Indomethacin did not inhibit the relaxation response of dipyrone. In isolated tracheal smooth muscle, histamine- (0.02 mmol/l) and ATP (0.01 mmol/l)-induced IP accumulation was significantly inhibited by dipyrone (1 mmol/l). ATP (0.01 mmol/l)-induced IP accumulation was also significantly inhibited by dipyrone (0.01 mmol/l) in LTK8 cells. Dipyrone inhibited ATP-induced (0.01 and 0.1 mmol/l) intracellular calcium increase in LTK8 cells.

Inhibition of the release of intracellular Ca(2+) may play a role in the smooth muscle relaxing effect of dipyrone. The inhibitor effect of dipyrone on IP accumulation may be due to direct inhibition of phospholipase C (PLC) or impairment of the activation of PLC by G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR).