Prostaglandin D(2), its metabolite 15-d-PGJ(2), and peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-gamma agonists induce apoptosis in transformed, but not normal, human T lineage cells.

Prostaglandin D(2) (PGD(2)) is abundantly produced by mast cells, platelets, and alveolar macrophages and has been proposed as a key immunoregulatory lipid mediator. 15-Deoxy-Delta(12,14)-PGJ(2) (15-d-PGJ(2)), a key PGD(2) metabolite, is under intense study as a potential anti-inflammatory mediator. Little is known about PGD(2) or the role of 15-d-PGJ(2), if any, in regulating the activities of human T lineage cells. In this report we demonstrate that both PGD(2) and 15-d-PGJ(2) have potent antiproliferative effects, and in fact kill human T lymphocyte lines derived from malignant cells by an apoptotic mechanism. Interestingly, normal human T cells were not similarly affected. Although the T lymphocyte lines express mRNA for the PGD(2) receptor (DP-R), a potent DP receptor agonist, BW245C, did not inhibit the proliferation or viability of the cells, suggesting an alternative mechanism of action. PGD(2) and 15-d-PGJ(2) can bind to the peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma) which is implicated in lipid metabolism and apoptosis. Exposure to synthetic PPAR-gamma ligands (e.g. ciglitazone, troglitazone) mimicked the inhibitory responses of PGD(2) and 15-d-PGJ(2), and induced apoptosis in the transformed T cells consistent with a PPAR-gamma-dependent mechanism. These observations suggest that PPAR-gamma ligands (which may include PGD2) provide strong apoptotic signals to transformed, but not normal T lymphocytes. Thus, the efficacy of utilizing PPAR-gamma and its ligands as therapeutics for human T cell cancers needs to be further evaluated.