GSK-1482160 is being evaluated for treatment of inflammatory pain (such as arthritis). This compound acts on P2X7 receptors, expressed by cells of innate and adaptive immunity. P2X7 receptors are involved in the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines that are thought to be an important mediator of inflammation. By blocking P2X7 receptors, less inflammatory chemicals are released, which possibly results in less inflammatory pain. Because of its ability to target P2X7R with high selectivity and to be radiolabelled with 11C, GSK-1482160 was suggested to be a useful biomarker for neuroinflammation via positron emission tomography (PET).

Nitroarginine (LNNA), an analog of L-arginine, is a competitive inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase which has been shown to prevent glutamate toxicity. Nitroarginine has been experimentally tested for its ability to prevent ammonia toxicity and ammonia-induced alterations in brain energy and ammonia metabolites. The Kd value (k(off)/k(on)) of bovine brain cNOS for LNNA was 15 nM. In contrast to the potent and slow onset of LNNA inhibition of brain cNOS, LNNA inhibition of inducible mouse macrophage NOS (iNOS) was weaker (Ki = 4.4 uM) and rapidly reversible. Thus, LNNA was a 300-fold more potent inhibitor of bovine brain cNOS than mouse macrophage iNOS. By inhibiting nitric oxide synthase LNNA causes the selective reduction of blood flow to tumor cells. Despite the potential of LNNA to function as an adjuvant in cancer therapies, its poor solubility and stability have hindered the development of an injectable formulation of LNNA that is suitable for human administration.