Lipopolysaccharide and silica-stimulated mononuclear cell prostaglandin production in ulcerative colitis

Abstract

Basal, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and silica-stimulated prostaglandin (PG) production were compared between peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC) from UC patients and healthy subjects (HS). Basal and LPS-stimulated PBMNC PGI₂, but not PGE₂, production was greater in UC. LPS stimulated both PGE₂ and PGI₂ by PBMNC from HS and UC patients. Silica stimulated production of both PGs by cells from HS but only PGE₂ by cells from UC patients. The differences in responses to silica and LPS may result from differences in activation of NFκB or, alternatively, prior sensitisation to one of these agents. That PBMNC PGE₂ production is not increased in UC, as it is in Crohn’s disease, suggests that there are differences in PBMNC behaviour between these two diseases.