R-130823 is a ighly selective inhibition against mitogen-activated protein kinase p38alpha (IC50=22 nM). The release of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1beta, -6 and -8 was inhibited in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated human blood pretreated by R-130823 , with IC50 values of 0.089, 0.066, 0.95 and 0.16 microM, respectively. R-130823 reduced the established hind paw swelling in rat adjuvant-induced arthritis, while methotrexate showed no suppression. In the same model, R-130823 ameliorated adjuvant-induced hyperalgesia with rapid onset and long duration comparable to a cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor, celecoxib.