C3 cleavage products stimulate release of prostaglandins by human mononuclear phagocytes in vitro.

Human monocytes cultured for up to 48 hr in serum-free, chemically defined culture media released low levels of prostaglandin. C3b, C3bi, and C3c stimulated an indomethacin-sensitive, dose-responsive increase in the amount of monocyte prostaglandin released by 18 hr after treatment. Native C3 and C3d, which do not bind to monocyte receptors, failed to stimulate increased prostaglandin release. Lymphocytes, treated and untreated, produced 10(-2) to 10(-3) as much prostaglandin as the monocytes. These data support the concept that monocytes are a significant source of leukocyte prostaglandin. They also introduce an important new biologic function for the C3 fragments C3b, C3bi, and C3c.