During inflammation, polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) apoptosis can be delayed by different proinflammatory mediators. Classically, it has been accepted that the widely used anti-inflammatory drug acetyl salicylic acid (ASA) exerts its action through inhibition of cyclooxygenases and subsequent prostaglandin synthesis. We hypothesized that another anti-inflammatory action of ASA could be the shortening of PMN survival. We found that at therapeutic concentrations (1-3 mM), ASA and its metabolite salicylate (NaSal), but not indomethacin or ibuprofen, counteracted the prolonged PMN survival mediated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) through inhibition of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) activation. Both salicylates also inhibited interleukin (IL)-1alpha or acidic conditions antiapoptotic activity. Higher concentrations of both drugs had a direct apoptotic effect. Salicylates were not effective when PMN apoptosis delay was induced by granulocyte macrophage-colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), a NF-kappaB-independent cytokine. Promotion of PMN survival by the combination of IL-1alpha and LPS was also reversed by salicylates, but higher concentrations were required. ASA concentrations that did not trigger PMN death increase the zymosan- or tumor necrosis factor-alpha-mediated proapoptotic effect. The LPS- and IL-1alpha- but not GM-CSF-mediated antiapoptotic effect was markedly reduced in PMNs from donors who had ingested ASA. Using a thioglycolate-induced peritonitis model, we showed that in ASA- or NaSal-treated mice there was not only a decrease in the number of cells recruited but also an increase in the percentage of apoptotic PMNs as well as an enhancement of phagocytosis compared with controls. Our findings demonstrate that acceleration of PMN apoptosis by turning off the NF-kappaB-mediated survival signals elicited by proinflammatory stimuli is another anti-inflammatory action of ASA and NaSal.