The effect of sulphasalazine on the in vitro activation of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells by phytohemagglutinin P.

The in vitro action of sulphasalazine, BW 755-C and indomethacin on phytohemagglutinin P-induced human peripheral blood mononuclear cell activation was studied. Sulphasalazine increased, while indomethacin and BW 755-C decreased, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) accumulation in activated cultures. When used together with indomethacin or BW 755-C, sulphasalazine did not counteract the inhibition of PGE2 caused by the other two. Sulphasalazine inhibited phytohemagglutinin P-induced cell activation in a concentration-dependent manner even when used together with indomethacin or BW 755-C. BW 755-C inhibited cell activation at 350 microM, whereas at 11 microM it only increased sulphasalazine-induced inhibition. The implications of these findings on the etiopathology of inflammatory bowel disease are discussed.