Effect of arachidonic acid (ARA), prostaglandins E2 (PGE2), and F2alpha (PGF2alpha) on sensitized spleen cells in the hemolytic plaque assay.

Spleen cells from the BDF1 generation of DBA male X C57Bl/6 female matings sensitized with sheep erythrocytes (SRBC) were exposed to various concentrations of ARA, PGE2, and PGF2alpha for 90 minutes in vitro at 37 degrees C. Following exposure these sensitized spleen cells were then examined in the hemolytic plaque assay. No changes were demonstrated in the number of plaque forming cells (PFC) with 0.1 microgram/ml of ARA treatment. However, an increase in the number of PFC occurred with increasing concentrations of ARA. A significant increase (p less than 0.01) in PFC (59%) was shown with 10.0 microgram/ml of ARA. PGE2 treatment at 10.0 and 100.0 microgram/ml showed no evidence of increase, but a slight decrease (10%) was shown with 100.0 microgram/ml. On the other hand, exposure to PGF2alpha showed a significant increase (p less than 0.05) in PFC at the 10.0 microgram/ml (35%) and the 100.0 microgram/ml (29% levels, respectively. The data suggest that both ARA and PGF2alpha enhanced PFC formation.