Prostaglandin modulation of development of cell-mediated immunity in culture

Prostaglandins (PGs) have been implicated as possible modulators of the immune response and various inflammatory processes. Various cell components of the immune system are sources of PGs, and mitogen or antigen stimulation of human or murine lymphocytes leads to their enhanced release. They are also released from various human and animal tumours. Thus, as cells of the immune system are both sensitive to and sources of PGs, these factors may be important as physiological immune regulators. For example, PGs of the E series are capable of inhibiting many effector functions. They have also been shown to inhibit the development of the humoral response. Although they inhibit the proliferative response to mitogens, little is known about their effects on the development of the cell-mediated immune response to antigens. The data summarized here implicate PGs, thromboxane A2 (TXA2) and prostacyclin (PGI2) in the regulation of cellular immune responses at the inductive phase. Some of these data have been reported in abstract form.