ARTICLE NO. FA962282 Stimulation of Prostaglandin Production by Quinolone Phototoxicity in

Sparfloxacin (SPFX) and levofloxacin (LVFX) with ultra violet-A (UVA) irradiation have been reported to induce skin inflamma-tion due to phototoxicity in Balb/c mice. We examined the produc-tion of arachidonic acid metabolites induced by quinolone photo-toxicity in Balb/c 3T3 mouse fibroblast cells in vitro. The cells were simultaneously treated with SPFX or LVFX at 1,10, or 100 /XM and UVA irradiation for 5 min (0.5 J/cm2). They were then cultured in quinolone-free medium for 24 hr, and the concentrations of prostaglandin E2 (PGEj), 6-ketoprostaglandin F,a (6-keto-PGFla), and leukotriene B4 (LTB4) in the incubation medium were mea-sured. Furthermore, the effect of quinolone photoproducts on the production of the inflammatory mediators and that of indometha-cin on PGE2 level were also examined. Treatment with SPFX at 100 /iM plus UVA irradiation markedly increased levels of PGE2 and 6-keto-PGF,a, but not that of LTB4. SPFX or LVFX alone a