V arious arachidonic acid (AA) metabolites are known to regulate immune cell function(s) and dictate the progression of both acute and chronic inflammatory reactions. Using a model of Schistosoma mansoni egg-induced hypersensitivity granulomas, we have delineated the in vivo effects of inhibitors of cyclooxygenase (CO) and lipoxygenase (LO) pathways on granuloma development and granuloma macrophage I-region-associated (Ia) antigen expression. In addition, by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) we have profiled the metabolism of AA by macrophages that are isolated from granulomatous foci, and have biochemically characterized the in vitro specificity and activity of selected CO and LO inhibitors. The development of hypersensitivity-type pulmonary granulomas in mice was dramatically suppressed by inhibitors with anti-LO activity (nordihydroguairetic acid (NDGA), nafazatrom, and BW755c) in a dose-dependent manner, while indomethacin, which is primarily CO-selective, had no significant effect. Furthermore, NDGA and nafazatrom profoundly arrested the normal progression of preformed granulomatous lesions. The inhibitors of the LO pathway also suppressed the in vivo kinetics of Ia antigen expression by granuloma macrophages. In contrast, indomethacin augmented Ia-antigen expression. The major AA metabolites that were synthesized by the granuloma macrophages were shown to be leukotriene C4 and mono-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids. HPLC analysis of AA metabolites from granuloma macrophages that were treated with the various inhibitors confirmed that indomethacin was most CO-selective and NDGA most LO-selective. Nafazatrom and BW755c inhibited AA metabolism by both pathways. Notably, high concentrations of the compounds (5 X 10(-5) M) tended to suppress all products. Our results suggest that LO products may be important in the generation and maintenance of immune granulomatous inflammatory responses.