Central administration of prostaglandin e2 suppresses in vitro cellular immune responses. Rassnick, Stefanie, Daohong Zhou, and Bruce S. Rabin. The Departments of Neuroscience and Pathology and The Brain, Behavior and Immunity Center, The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213-2582 (USA)
APStracts 2:0029R, 1995.
Research suggests that the regulation of the function of the immune system by the central nervous system (CNS) involves the integrative responses of multiple neural systems that effect neuroendocrine and sympathetic nervous systems. To determine if prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is involved in the modulatory mechanisms of immune system function, PGE2 was administered intracerebroventricularly (ICV) to conscious male rats. One hour later, spleen and peripheral blood lymphocytes were collected for culture with non-specific mitogens. ICV administration of PGE2 decreased blood lymphocyte proliferative responses to the T-cell mitogens, phytohemagglutinin and concanavalin-A, and decreased spleen lymphocyte proliferative responses to phytohemagglutinin and lipopolysaccaride (a B-lymphocyte mitogen). ICV administered PGE2 also stimulated the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, as reflected by increased plasma concentrations of ACTH and corticosterone. Thus, PGE2 may act in the CNS as a hormonal modulator of immune system function. 

Received 6 June 1994; accepted in final form 16 January 1995.
APS Manuscript Number R313-4.
Article publication pending Am. J. Physiol. (Regulatory Integrative
Comp. Physiology).
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1995 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 25 February 1995.