Synthesis of prostaglandins by subpopulations of human peripheral blood monocytes.

The ability of monocytes/macrophages to regulate various aspects of immunologic responses may in part depend on their release of soluble substances such as prostaglandins. Using quantitative gas-liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry, prostaglandin E2 was found to be the major prostaglandin synthesized in culture by human peripheral blood monocytes. Subjecting these cells to discontinuous density gradient fractionation demonstrated significant differences in the synthesis of prostaglandins E2 and E1 among the resulting monocyte subpopulations.