Inflammatory effect of intradermal administration of soluble phospholipase A2 in rabbits.

Extracellular phospholipase A2 (PLA2) has been found in association with inflamed sites in experimental animals and in humans. The tissue effects of soluble PLA2 have not been defined. We studied the development of inflammatory changes in rabbit skin subsequent to intradermal injection of active and inactivated venom and pancreatic PLA2, over a broad concentration range. PLA2, at concentrations encountered in human disease, caused acute inflammatory changes characterized grossly by erythema and induration, and histologically by inflammatory cell infiltration, vascular and tissue damage, and abscess formation. Extracellular PLA2 may be considered as one of the pathogenic factors in inflammatory reaction.