Leukotriene and prostaglandin synthesis pathways in osteoarthritic synovial membranes: regulating factors for interleukin 1beta synthesis.

We demonstrated in OA synovium that a shunt from AA to the LOX pathway occurred and that treatment with a nonselective COX inhibitor could increase the production of LTB4 and secondarily the synthesis of IL-1beta. Therefore treatment with licofelone, which can act on both COX and LOX pathways, may have some interesting properties in the treatment of OA.