Macrophage function during the development of adjuvant disease.

Using rat peritoneal macrophages and blood monocytes we examined the relationship of developing adjuvant disease (AD) with the expression of class I and II antigens, release of interleukin-1 (IL-1) and production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). We observed that class I and II antigens initially decreased; class II remained low throughout, whereas class I returned to normal. PGE2 and IL-1 gradually increased. Treatment in vivo with the NSAID Na-diclofenac lowered PGE2 and IL-1 release and partly reversed the observed reduction of class I and II antigens. Also, exposure of the cells in vitro to lipopolysaccharide increased class I antigen expression.