Cell-bound C3b stimulates human monocyte release of prostaglandin E and thromboxane B2

Particle-bound C3b stimulated enhanced release of prostaglandin E and thromboxane B2 (TxB2) from human peripheral blood monocytes in vitro. Particle-bound C3b stimulation was correlated to the ability of the particles to bind to the monocytes. Monocytes stimulated with particle-bound and fluid-phase C3b always released more TxB2 than PGE. These data suggest that ligation of the C3b receptor on human monocytes results in enhanced arachidonic acid metabolism.