Prostaglandin secretion by human thymic epithelium: in vitro effects of steroids.

Increasing evidence suggests a role for prostaglandins in the immune response. As steroids have been shown recently to modulate prostaglandin secretion, we have studied the secretion of prostaglandin and the effect of various steroids in culture of human thymus epithelial cells. Using reverse phase high pressure liquid chromatography and radioimmunoassays, we have shown that these cells produce substantial amounts of PGE2 and PGF2 alpha and that this secretion is modulated by steroid hormones. Prostaglandin could represent one of the factors of the thymic environment which respond to steroid hormones.