DOSE-DEPENDENT REVERSAL EFFECTS OF CAPSAICIN ON INTERLEUKIN-1-ALPHA PRODUCTION IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE METABOLISM OF ARACHIDONIC-ACID (LEUKOTRIENE B-4 AND PROSTAGLANDIN E(2)) AS WELL AS NITRIC-OXIDE PRODUCTION IN HUMAN-LEUKOCYTES

This study attempts to determine the dose-dependent effects of capsaic in, the pungent principle of red hot pepper, on the early intracellula r events after the binding of capsaicin to immunocompetent cells. It s hows that capsaicin stimulates the release of AA as well as PGE(2) and LTB(4). At high doses capsaicin activates NO-production in human lymp hocytes. At low concentrations (10(-8) to 10(-5) M) it increases the I L-1 alpha-production from human lymphocytes, whereas at concentrations of 10(-4) M this production is inhibited. The possible mechanisms of action of the various pharmacological effects of capsaicin are discuss ed.