Anti-inflammatory effect of proteinase inhibitors on carrageenin-induced inflammation in rats

Proteinase inhibitors were evaluated for their anti-inflammatory actions on carrageenin-induced inflammation in rats. The development of granulation tissue and the exudate were markedly suppressed by a single injection of L-1-tosylamide-2-phenylethyl chloromethyl ketone (TPCK) into the carrageenin-air-pouch immediately after carrageenin injection, whereas a single injection of TPCK at 12 or 24 hr after carrageenin injection was less effective or slightly effective respectively. These results suggest that proteinase inhibitors exert their anti-inflammatory actions by interfering with the initial inflammatory reactions after carrageenin injection. When the wet weight of granulation tissue and the weight of exudate were measured on day 4 after the simultaneous injection of carrageenin and inhibitors, a single injection of serine- and thiol-proteinase inhibitors including TPCK, leupeptin, antipain, chymostatin and cystamine suppressed the development of granulation tissue, though EDTA and o-phenanthroline, metallo-proteinase inhibitors, were also effective at a high dose. Exudate was reduced by treatment with TPCK in a dose-dependent manner, while EDTA and o-phenanthroline were effective only at a high dose. On the other hand, the migration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes into the carrageenin-air-pouch (the inflammatory lesion) was markedly suppressed by TPCK and leupeptin, while a high dose of cystamine and o-phenanthroline was slightly effective, and antipain, chymostatin, pepstatin, elastatinal, EDTA, trans-1-aminomethylcyclohexane 4-carboxylic acid and aprotinin were without effect.