Heterogeneity in leukocyte preparations: effects on defining eicosanoid metabolism by human lymphocytes and monocytes

The capacity of preparations of human monocytes and lymphocytes to generate lipoxygenase products of arachidonic acid is largely attributable to platelet and occasionally to neutrophil contamination. Removal of platelets by several techniques eliminates the lipoxygenase activity of lymphocytes and substantially diminishes that of monocytes. The definition of profiles of lipoxygenation for each type of leukocyte will increase the meaning of studies of cell-cell interactions.