Effect of Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors on PGE₂ -Sensitive Human Lymphocyte Receptors

Abstract

A short preincubation of human T and B lymphocyte populations with exogenous Prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) markedly depresses the expression of surface receptors binding the Fc portion of IgG, sheep and mouse erythrocytes (FcR-IgG, Ea and ME receptors respextively). Using two cyclooxygenase inhibitors (indomethacin and meclofenamate) it is shown that endogenous PGE₂ does not modify the activity of these lymphocyte surface receptors. The lymphocyte sensitivity to exogenous PGE₂, which is released under various physiologic and pathologic stimuli, may represent another method to subdivide human lymphocytes in distinct subsets.