title: Alloimmunization-induced changes in thymocytes' prostaglandin levels: a signal for the induction of biological activity.
abstract: The effect of BALB/c anti C3H non-adherent thymocytes on the spontaneous activity of isolated C3H mouse atria was studied. Immune non-adherent thymocytes alone induced negative inotropic action, while macrophages alone did not have any effect. The same kind of collaborative effect between both cells is described. Cell-free supernatants obtained from non-adherent immune cells incubated with C3H myocardium induced the same biological activity than immune non-adherent thymocytes indicating that a soluble factor is involved. Inhibition of non-adherent thymocytes' cyclo-oxygenase activity prevented the negative inotropic effect of immune cells or cell-free supernatants. In contrast, when the inhibitors were applied upon myocardium did not modify the response. Supernatants from immune thymocytes plus myocardium, release higher amount of PGE series than those from non-immune thymocytes. It is proposed that non-adherent thymocytes are able to synthesize and release PGE series upon recognition of alloantigens expressed by atria cells; which in turn triggers the negative inotropic effect.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D001095:Arachidonic Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D007114:Immunization; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008264:Macrophages / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D011458:Prostaglandins E / Q000032:analysis*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000032:analysis* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D011458:Prostaglandins E; D016718:Arachidonic Acid