Synergy of interleukin 1 (IL-1) with arachidonic acid and A23187 in stimulating PGE synthesis in human fibroblasts: IL-1 stimulates fibroblast cyclooxygenase.

The stimulation of prostaglandin E (PGE) synthesis by interleukin 1 (IL-1) has important physiologic effects in many target tissues. The mechanism(s) whereby IL-1 stimulates PGE synthesis is not well understood. Two alternative mechanisms have been postulated: hydrolysis of membrane phospholipid with release of arachidonic acid substrate and induction of cyclooxygenase activity. We examined these mechanisms in IL-1 stimulation of human dermal fibroblast PGE synthesis. IL-1 failed to induce release of previously incorporated radiolabeled arachidonic acid from fibroblasts under conditions where there was a 30-fold or greater stimulation of PGE synthesis. The calcium ionophore, A23187, gave much less stimulation of PGE synthesis while inducing 30-100% release of incorporated [14C]arachidonic acid. There was marked synergy between IL-1 and agents which increased availability of arachidonic acid. For example, the combination of IL-1 and A23187, used at concentrations where neither agent alone stimulated PGE synthesis, increased PGE synthesis from 3.1 to 22.5 ng/ml; similar synergy was seen between IL-1 and exogenous arachidonic acid. To examine a possible effect of IL-1 on cyclooxygenase synthesis, fibroblast cyclooxygenase was measured by radioimmunoassay. Following treatment with IL-1, fibroblasts demonstrated a two- to threefold increase in content of immunoreactive cyclooxygenase. These results suggest that IL-1 increases fibroblast PGE synthesis by a mechanism(s) other than making available increased membrane arachidonic acid, and that at least part of its effect may be mediated by induction of cyclooxygenase. Furthermore, the effect of IL-1 on fibroblast PGE synthesis is markedly potentiated by agents which increase available substrate.