Immunoreactive prostaglandin production by equine monocytes and alveolar macrophages and concentrations of PGE2 and PGF in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid

Abstract

Because of their capacity to produce prostanoids, alveolar macrophages may play a part in the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Cultured equine alveolar macrophages and peripheral blood monocytes synthesised mainly prostaglandin (PG)F and PGE2. They also synthesised smaller quantities of PGI2, measured as the stable metabolite 6-keto-PGF1 alpha, and thromboxane B2. Concentrations of immunoreactive PGF and PGE2 were measured in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid collected from clinically normal horses (n = 3) and horses with COPD (n = 3). None of the normal horses had detectable concentrations of prostaglandins in lavage fluid, but fluid from all horses with COPD contained PGE2 (238 +/- 119 pg ml-1) and fluid from one of the three horses with COPD contained PGF (120 pg ml-1).