(R,S)-2-
Aryl-propionic acids are useful as inhibitors of 
interleukin-8 induced human polymorphonucleated neutrophils (PMN) 
chemotaxis. (R,S)-2-
Aryl-propionic acids of formula (I), their single (R) and (S) enantiomers or salts are useful as inhibitors of 
interleukin-8 (IL-8) induced human polymorphonucleated neutrophils (PMN) 
chemotaxis. [Image] Ar : phenyl ring (substituted by T in meta position, T1 in 
para position or T2 in 
ortho position); T : linear or branched 1-5C 
alkyl, 2-5C alkenyl, or 2-5C alkynyl (optionally substituted by 1-5C alkoxycarbonyl, optionally substituted phenyl, linear or branched 1-5C hydroxyalkyl or arylhydroxymethyl); T1benzoyloxy, benzoylamino, benzenesulfonyloxy, benzenesulfonylamino, benzenesulfonylmethyl (all optionally substituted), 1-5C acyloxy, 1-5C acylamino, 1-5C sulfonyloxy, 1-5C alkanesulfonylamino, 1-5C alkanesulfonylmethyl, 3-6C cycloalkyl, 2-furyl, 3-tetrahydrofuryl, 2- thiophenyl, 2-tetrahydrothiophenyl or ((1-8C)-alkanoyl, -cycloalkanoyl or -arylalkanoyl)-1-5C-alkylamino (preferably acetyl-N-methyl-amino or pivaloyl-N-ethyl-amino); and T2arylmethyl, aryloxy or acylamino (all optionally substituted by 1-4C 
alkyl, 1-4C-alkoxy, 
chlorine, 
fluorine or 
trifluoromethyl). The meta linear or branched 1-5C 
alkyl together with a 
substituent in ortho or 
para position and the 
benzene ring forms optionally saturated or optionally substituted bicyclo aryls. INDEPENDENT CLAIM are included for the following: (1) preparation of (I); and (2) use of (I) in the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of e.g. 
psoriasis, 
ulcerative colitis, 
melanoma and chronic obstructive 
pulmonary disease (
COPD). - ACTIVITY : Antipsoriatic; Antiulcer; Respiratory-Gen.; Antirheumatic; Antiarthritic; Nephrotropic; Vasotropic; Antiinflammatory; Gastrointestinal-Gen.; Cytostatic. - 
MECHANISM OF ACTION : 
Interleukin-8 (IL-8) inhibitor; GROalpha inhibitor; CXCR2 
agonist / 
antagonist. The ability of (R,S) 2-[(3'-
isopropyl)phenyl]propionic acid (A) to inhibit IL-8 induced 
chemotaxis of human monocytes was tested as described in Van Damme J. et al. (Eur. J. Immunol., 19, 2367, 1989). (A) showed inhibition (%) of 51+-12.