title: Prostacyclin release and cytotoxicity of peritoneal cells are inversely related in pregnant and non-pregnant mice infected with herpes simplex virus.
abstract: Cytotoxicity of peritoneal cells in a HSV-infected murine model is attenuated in late pregnancy. Prostacyclin (PGI2) is elevated at this time in reproductive tissues and has been implicated in the regulation of the immune response. The purpose of this study was to estimate PGI2 in the peritoneal wash or culture supernatants of peritoneal cells obtained from uninfected and HSV-infected pregnant and virgin mice using a radioimmunoassay for 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha. The peritoneal wash of uninfected pregnant and virgin mice contained high levels of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha, 505 +/- 51 pg/100 microliters, (mean +/- S.E., n = 15), and 200 +/- 19 pg/100 microliters, (n = 30), ad did peritoneal effector and target cell cultures (1,159 +/- 118 pg/100 microliters, n = 6, and 1,057 +/- 207 pg/100 microliters, n = 7), respectively. HSV-infection induced in vitro cytotoxicity and suppressed the release of 6-keto-PGF 1 alpha (r = -0.897, P less than 0.05, n = 18). Its concentration was significantly higher (14-fold, P less than .05) in the peritoneal wash, but not in the cell culture, of pregnant (212 +/- 29 pg/100 microliters, n = 19) as compared to virgin mice (18.5 +/- 3.4 pg/100 microliters, n = 27). The levels of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha were inversely correlated (P less than .05) with the combined effects of HSV-infection and cytotoxicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of Texas Medical School, Houston.
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Loftin
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gonik
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kumaran
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ramirez
mesh_terms: D015121:6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000276:immunology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D011464:Epoprostenol / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D010529:Peritoneal Cavity / Q000166:cytology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D015121:6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha; D011464:Epoprostenol