[Investigation of prostaglandins in supernatant of cultured monocytes]

Monocytes, mononuclear white cells play an important role in the immunological, inflammatory and in the haemostasis system. The aim of our study was the complex assessment of the ability of monocytes to release selected prostaglandins in the fluid cultures stimulated and nonstimulated by a lipopolysaccharide E. coli (LPS). Monocytes were isolated from the whole blood according to the method of Böyum. The monocytes cultures were raised in the fluid environment, on the base of RPMI 1640 supplemented with autologous serum. We showed that thromboxan A2 was the main metabolite of the arachidonic acid released by monocytes on the cyclooxygenase pathway. The rest of the prostaglandins, mainly PGI2 were released in very small quantities. Thromboxane B2 release in response to LPS could be a mechanism active in disorders such as disseminated intravascular coagulation induced by bacterial endotoxins.