Aspirin triggers antiinflammatory 15-epi-lipoxin A 4 and inhibits thromboxane in a randomized human trial

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Abstract
There is increasing evidence that aspirin initiates biosynthesis of novel antiinflammatory mediators by means of interactions between endothelial cells and leukocytes. These mediators are classified as aspirin-triggered 15-epi-lipoxins. Such compounds may account at least in part for aspirin's clinical benefits, which are distinct from the well appreciated action of aspirin as a platelet inhibitor. Here, we addressed whether aspirin-triggered 15-epilipoxinA 4 (ATL) formation is aspirin-dependent in humans and its relationship to aspirin's antiplatelet activity. We conducted a randomized clinical trial among 128 healthy subjects allocated to placebo or to 81-, 325-, or 650-mg daily doses of aspirin for 8 weeks. Plasma thromboxane (TX)B 2 , an indicator of platelet reactivity, and ATL were assessed from blood collected at baseline and at 8 weeks. Plasma ATL levels significantly increased in the 81-mg aspirin group (0.25 ± 0.63 ng/ml, P = 0.04), with borderline increases in the 325-mg group (0.16 ± 0.71 ng/ml) and no apparent significant changes in the 650-mg group (0.01 ± 0.75 ng/ml, P = 0.96). When ATL and TXB 2 were compared, levels changed in a statistically significant and opposite direction ( P < 0.01) for all three aspirin doses. These results demonstrated that low-dose aspirin (81 mg daily) initiates production of antiinflammatory ATL opposite to the inhibition of TX. Monitoring ATL may represent a simple clinical parameter to verify an individual's vascular leukocyte antiinflammatory response with low-dose aspirin treatment. These results also emphasize the importance of cell-cell interactions in the modulation of hemostatic, thrombotic, and inflammatory processes.

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