Prostacyclin synthesis induced in vascular cells by interleukin-1.

Supernatants from cultures of human monocytes that had been stimulated with endotoxin or silica induced the synthesis of prostacyclin in endothelial and smooth muscle cells. The lymphokine mediating these effects on the cells of the blood vessel wall was identified as interleukin-1; interferons and interleukin-2 were inactive. Interleukin-1-induced prostacyclin synthesis represents a new aspect of the interaction between the immune system (as well as other tissues) and the vessel wall and may serve as a basis for the development of new strategies in antithrombotic therapy.