Role of prostaglandin E2 in the induction of nonspecific T lymphocyte suppressor activity.
Activated human monocytes and concanavalin A (Con A)-activated T lymphocytes are known to suppress T and B lymphocyte proliferation and B cell maturation into immunoglobulin-producing cells. We have now shown that monocyte suppressive activity is predominantly mediated through release of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), which is active only in the presence of a "short-lived," radiosensitive T lymphocyte subset. PGE2, at high concentration, can activate T suppressor lymphocytes (TS), which display the same characteristics as Con A-activated TS lymphocytes. Moreover, Con A activation of TS lymphocytes was obtained only in the presence of PGE2, as specific anti-PGE2 antiserum or indomethacin prevented TS activation; this suggested a double signal as a prerequisite for activation of the nonspecific TS cell subset. We propose that TS lymphocytes modified by Con A become sensitive to small amounts of PGE2 produced by monocytes that must be present during the Con A-stimulated activation phase of suppressive cells.
D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007106:Immune Sera / Q000494:pharmacology; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D011458:Prostaglandins E / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011961:Receptors, Fc / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*
D007106:Immune Sera; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D011458:Prostaglandins E; D011961:Receptors, Fc; D003208:Concanavalin A