Stimulation of macrophage prostaglandin and neutral protease production by phorbol esters as a model for the induction of vascular changes associated with tumor promotion

Abstract

A series of phorbol esters stimulates prostaglandin E production from both resident and starch-induced mouse peritoneal macrophages. The relative potencies of these compounds parallel their abilities both to elevate macrophage plasminogen activator levels and to function as tumor promoters in a mouse skin carcinogenesis model. Low concentrations of anti-inflammatory glucocorticoids, such as dexamethasone, inhibit the enhanced prostaglandin E synthesis as a result of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate action. The same glucocorticoids also inhibit the enhanced plasminogen activator production. On the basis of these observations, it is suggested that there might be a relationship between macr..