Prostaglandin E1 treatment of NZB/W mice - III. Preservation of Spleen Cell Concentrations and Mitogen-Induced Proliferative Responses

Author(s): Torrey, S., Zurier, R.

Journal/Book: Clinical Immunology and Immunopathology. 1978; 11: 256-264.

Abstract: Treatment with prostaglandin E, (PGE,) delays nephritis and death in NZB/W mice. In an effort to determine the effects of PGE, an immune dysfunctions in NZB/W mice, spleen cell responses to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and spleen lymphocyte numbers and proportions were compared in PGE,-treated and untreated NZB/W mice from 10 through 44 weeks of age. A sharp decline in both unstimulated and PHA-stimulated [3H]thymidine incorporation was observed in spleen cells from untreated mice older than 10 weeks. PGE1-treated mice maintained significantly higher unstimulated levels of [3H]thymidine incorporation than control mice from 13.5 through 44 weeks. Responses to PHA stimulation were consistently higher in cells from PGE,-treated than from unatreated NZB/W mice until 28 weeks. Responses to PHA of spleen cells from both PGE1 treated and control NZB/W mice reflected their respective T- and B-cell concentrations. Splenomegaly was prevented, and the numbers of B and null cells were reduced by PGE1 trcatment. Thus, although T-cell numbers were similar, the percentage of T cells in, pleens from PGE1-treated mice was greater than in spleens from untreated NZB/W mice. Preservation of cell-mediated immunity may, therefore, reflect maintenance by PGE1 of appropriate T- and B-cell concentrations and may be one of the early mechanisms by which PGE1 alters the course of murine lupus.

Keyword(s): Evening primrose oil

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