Inhibition of cytotoxic T lymphocyte-mediated lysis by etya: effect independent of arachidonic acid metabolism

Cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL)-mediated lysis of target cells was inhibited by 5,8,11,14-eicosatetraynoic acid (ETYA) and other inhibitors of the lipoxygenase pathway at concentrations that inhibited arachidonic acid metabolism in mixed lymphocyte cultures. Inhibition was reversible and selective for the 'lethal hit' stage in the CTL-target interaction. Studies to define CTL-specific arachidonic acid metabolites demonstrated that cloned CTL populations have little or no capacity to metabolize arachidonic acid. Therefore, inhibitor actions appear to be independent of the effects on CTL arachidonic acid metabolism. Alternative explanations for inhibitory effects are discussed.