Effect of prostaglandins and their precursors on the proliferation of human lymphocytes and their secretion of tumor necrosis factor and various interleukins.

Cytokines, released by T cells, participate in inflammation and produce tissue injury. Excess production of cytokines such as interleukins (ILs) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is believed to be involved in the pathobiology of conditions such as septicemia and septic shock, collagen vascular diseases, glomerulonephritis etc. On the other hand, prostaglandins (PGs) are known to modulate inflammation, immune response, and T-cell response to antigens. But relatively little information is available on the effects of PGs and PG precursors on the release of cytokines. Here the authors present data which suggests that PGs including thromboxane B2 (TXB2) and their precursors such as dihomo-gamma linolenic acid (DGLA), arachidonic acid (AA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) can inhibit T-cell proliferation and influence their ability to secrete IL-2, IL-4, IL-6 and TNF in vitro. These results may have relevance to the use of PG-precursors in various inflammatory conditions including collagen vascular diseases.