PRODUCTION OF PROSTAGLANDIN-E2 BY MACROPHAGES IN UREMIA

Production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), interleukin-2, and response to lectin stimulation were examined in peripheral blood mononuclear cell cultures from 46 patients on haemodialysis, 20 patients on continuous peritoneal dialysis, 18 non-dialysed patients with mild to moderate renal failure, and 52 control subjects. Production of PGE2 and responses to phyto-haemagglutinin (PHA) were decreased in cell cultures from patients on dialysis. Similarly, production of interleukin-2 was significantly reduced in patient groups as compared to control subjects, but there was no relationship between production of PGE2 and responses to PHA or production of interleukin-2. Addition of exogenous indomethacin did not return the response to normal and the patient cultures were not more sensitive to exogenous PGE2 than the control cultures. Thus, release of PGE2 does not account for the impaired invitro response of uraemic lymphocytes.