Mediation of augmented monocyte adhesiveness by thromboxane

We examined the potential contribution of thromboxanes in human monocyte adherence to plastic. Monocyte adherence to plastic could be augmented by various stimuli including lipopolysaccharide, chemotactic peptide, and supernates of antigen-stimulated lymphocytes. Increments in monocyte adhesiveness were suppressed by inhibition of cyclooxygenase, thromboxane synthetase, or by antiserum to thromboxane B2. Neither prostaglandin E2 or F2 alpha significantly affected baseline or lipopolysaccharide-stimulated monocyte adherence. Additional experiments confirmed incremental production of thromboxane B2 by monocytes after incubation with lipopolysaccharide. Thromboxane B2 itself did not stimulate monocyte adhesiveness. These data demonstrate that monocytes release thromboxane A2 following stimulation and suggest that thromboxane A2 may play a significant role in monocyte-substrate attachment.