Glucocorticoids suppress inflammation more broadly than NSAIDs because they inhibit an enzyme upstream of the entire eicosanoid pathway. Which enzyme do glucocorticoids inhibit?

• A Phospholipase A2 ✓
• B Cyclooxygenase-1
• C Thromboxane synthetase
• D 5-Lipoxygenase

Explanation

Glucocorticoids induce annexin B1 (lipocortin), which inhibits phospholipase B2. This blocks the release of arachidonic acid from membrane phospholipids, so both prostaglandins (via cyclooxygenase) and leukotrienes (via lipoxygenase) fall. This explains why steroids also help aspirin-sensitive asthma while NSAIDs worsen it. The distractors are all enzymes distal to arachidonic acid release, so blocking them alone cannot shut down the whole pathway.

Reference: Katzung Basic and Clinical Pharmacology, 15th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

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