Prostaglandin E counteracts the gamma interferon induction of major histocompatibility complex class-II antigens on U937 cells and induction of responsiveness of U937 colony-forming cells to suppression by lactoferrin, transferrin, acidic isoferritins, and prostaglandin E.

The established human monoblast or early monocyte cell line, U937, was evaluated for modulating influences of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) on human gamma interferon (HuIFN gamma) induction of MHC class-II (Ia) antigens on U937 cells and the HuIFN gamma induction of responsiveness of U937 colony-forming cells (CFC) to inhibition by lactoferrin (LF), transferrin (TF), acidic isoferritins (AIF), and prostaglandin E (PGE). U937 CFC were induced to a state of responsiveness to the suppressive influences of PGE by HuIFN gamma. When MHC class-II antigens were induced on U937 cells and the cells sorted on the fluorescence activated cell sorter (FACS) IV into positive and negative cells, colony formation by the MHC class-II antigen+ population of cells was suppressed by LF, TF, AIF, and PGE2. Colony formation by the sorted population of MHC class-II antigen- cells was not influenced significantly by LF, TF, AIF, or PGE2. When PGE was present in the suspension culture for 72 h with U937 cells exposed to HuIFN gamma plus indomethacin, it blocked the induction of MHC class-II antigens as well as the associated inhibition of U937 CFC by LF, TF, AIF, and PGE2.