Prostaglandin E2 as a modulator of macrophage-T lymphocyte interactions.

Sufficient data exist to implicate the monocyte-macrophage as the major source of prostaglandins in monocyte-macrophage-T lymphocyte interactions. Prostaglandin (PG) E2, a major prostaglandin synthesized by human monocyte-macrophages is able to modulate a variety of T lymphocyte reactivities including blastogenesis, lymphokine secretion, and cytotoxicity. The effect of PGE2 on T lymphocyte function varies according to the primary activating stimulus, the specific response under investigation, as well as the population of T lymphocytes involved. Some immunologic abnormalities found in clinical disease may in part derive from alterations occurring in the synthesis of PGE2 by monocyte-macrophages or in the response of T lymphocytes to PGE2.