Structure-function relations in the inhibition of murine contact hypersensitivity by amiloride

Topical application of amiloride, a potent inhibitor of the Na+/H+ antiport, inhibits cutaneous inflammation induced by ultraviolet radiation or contact hypersensitivity in mice. Amiloride analogues with greater and lesser inhibition of the Na+/H+ exchange were tested to determine whether anti-inflammatory effects correlate with this activity. Structural analogues of amiloride without significant activity at the Na+/H+ antiport (pyrazine, pyrazinamide, and chloropyrazine) failed to inhibit contact hypersensitivity. N-amidino-3-amino-5-dimethyl amino-6-chloropyrazinecarboxamide (DMA) has a 23-fold greater affinity for the Na+/H+ antiport compared to amiloride, but failed to inhibit contact hypersensitivity in this assay. 3,5-diamino-6-chloropyrazine-amido-guanidine (DCG), which has only 7% of the affinity of amiloride for the antiport, suppressed contact hypersensitivity as well as amiloride. Experiments examining the ability of these agents to diffuse through mouse skin revealed amiloride to be superior to both DCG and DMA, which were approximately equal. DMA, with greater inhibition of the Na+/H+ antiport but lesser ability to inhibit contact hypersensitivity, inhibited protein synthesis and induced cell death more than amiloride or DCG. Amiloride and DCG hold promise as topical anti-inflammatory agents. Their anti-inflammatory properties do not correlate with affinity for the Na+/H+ antiport, ability to penetrate murine skin, or inhibition of protein synthesis.