Calcitonin enhances production of prostaglandins by stimulated human monocytes.

Stimulated monocytes produce prostaglandins that may play a role in bone resorption. We studied the effects of salmon calcitonin (sCT) on human monocyte production of various prostaglandin metabolites. Latex particle-stimulated human monocyte production of prostaglandin E2, thromboxane A2 measured as thromboxane B2, and prostacyclin measured as 6-keto-PGF1 alpha was each increased in the presence of sCT. This effect required surface stimulation, was blocked by indomethacin, was less marked with equivalent concentrations of human calcitonin, and was not seen with parathyroid hormone. Calcitonin specifically affects prostaglandin pathways in stimulated human monocytes.