Role of prostaglandins on the regulation of macrophage proliferation and cytotoxic functions.

The data presented show different effects of prostaglandins on proliferation and cytotoxic effector functions of murine bone-marrow derived mononuclear cells. Colony stimulating factor (CSF)-dependent proliferation of colony forming unit-cells (CFU c) was inhibited by PGE1, PGE2 and PGB2. Lymphokine induced cytotoxicity and antibody mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) of monocytes and macrophages were also affected by PG. We conclude that PGE2 may regulate macrophage mediated tumorcell-lysis mainly at the induction phase. If these processes function in vivo, one would therefore expect high affinity binding sites for PGE2 on macrophages. The existence of a receptor for PGE2 one murine bone marrow derived macrophages is described.