REGULATION OF EICOSANOID GENERATION IN ACTIVATED MACROPHAGES

Abstract

Macrophage activation is accompanied by reductions in prostacyclin generation and platelet-activating factor (PAF) levels, but the mechanism has not been identified. We have investigated the involvement of glucocorticoid-sensitive mechanisms and endogenous PAF in this phenomenon. The synthetic glucocorticoid, dexamethasone (1 microM) reduced basal prostacyclin and PAF generation in resident, but not in activated macrophages. PAF receptor antagonists or dexamethasone reduced the basal, but not stimulation-induced prostacyclin generation in resident macrophages. Dexamethasone and PAF antagonists did not have synergistic inhibitory effects on prostacyclin generation by resident macrophages, and..