title: Pharmacological modulation of prostaglandin production by phagocytic cells of the thymic reticulum in relation to immunoregulation.
abstract: We cultured phagocytic cells derived from the thymic reticulum in order to study the regulation of prostaglandin (PG) production by antiinflammatory or immunostimulating agents. The kinetics of PGE2, 6-keto-PGF1 alpha and PGF2 alpha production were measured by specific radioimmunoassays of the supernatants harvested from cells treated with dexamethasone, a steroidal antiinflammatory drug and by two non steroidal inhibitors (indomethacin and sulindac) or by various immunostimulating agents, one of them, RU 41740 is currently being used in humans. Our results revealed that each of these drugs exerts a differential effect on the PG production, with a striking action on PGE2 synthesis, a lesser effect on 6-keto-PGF1 alpha production and almost no effect on PGF2 alpha synthesis. The possible mechanisms responsible for this complex regulation of PG production are discussed.
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000494:pharmacology; D007700:Kinetics; D051379:Mice; D010586:Phagocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D011453:Prostaglandins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013467:Sulindac / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D006023:Glycoproteins; D011453:Prostaglandins; D013467:Sulindac; C037567:glycoprotein, Klebsiella pneumoniae; C025462:sulindac sulfide; D003907:Dexamethasone; D007213:Indomethacin