Interaction between prostaglandins and human T lymphocytes: effect of PGE2 on E-receptor expression

E-rosette formation is not modified by preincubation of lymphocytes with prostaglandins (PGs) E1, F1 alpha, and F2 alpha. On the contrary, short preincubation with PGE2 affects active rosette-forming cells (Ea-RFC) and, only slightly, total RFC. This effect appears to be dose-dependent and relatively temperature-independent; it does not require calcium ions. Incubation with a fraction enriched in late RFC showed that PGE2 does not affect late rosette formation. It is postulated that PGE2 may redistribute surface receptors for sheep erythrocytes on T lymphocyte membranes. Thus, sensitivity to PGE2 may be considered another difference between early and late RFC.