Effect of cyclooxygenase inhibitors on PGE2-sensitive human lymphocyte receptors

A short preincubation of human T and B lymphocyte populations with exogenous Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) markedly depresses the expression of surface receptors binding the Fc portion of IgG, sheep and mouse erythrocytes (FcR-IgG, Ea and ME receptors respectively). Using two cyclooxygenase inhibitors (indomethacin and meclofenamate) it is shown that endogenous PGE2 does not modify the activity of these lymphocyte surface receptors. The lymphocyte sensitivity to exogenous PGE2, which is released under various physiologic and pathologic stimuli, may represent present another method to subdivide human lymphocytes in distinct subsets.