Anti-inflammatory drugs modulate C1q secretion in human peritoneal macrophages in vitro

The complement system plays an important role in the humoral immune response. Activation of the classical complement pathway is mediated by its subcomponent, C1q, which is involved in the pathogenesis of several autoimmune disorders. Among the main C1q-synthesising tissues, macrophages have been attributed as the main source. We investigated the effects of anti-inflammatory drugs (methylprednisolone and acetylsalicylic acid (ASA)) on C1q secretion in human peritoneal macrophages in vitro. The macrophages were isolated from peritoneal lavage fluid of patients with end-stage renal disease undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis, and were maintained in culture for up to 6 days. ASA decreased while methylprednisolone increased C1q secretion from human peritoneal macrophages in vitro, which correlated well with the percentage of CD14 positive cells after treatment. We conclude that different response of the macrophages to treatment with methylprednisolone and ASA may point out to the importance of macrophage activation after treatment, as well as an increased abundance of membrane C1q accompanied by increased phagocytosis.