Increased synthesis and production of prostaglandin E₂ by monocytes from drug addicts with AIDS

We analysed the production of prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) by monocytes in 11 drug addicts with AIDS and opportunistic infections and in 13 controls. In three patients and six controls we isolated the PGE₂ fraction from culture supernatants of purified monocytes (> 95%) incubated in medium containing (³H) arachidonic acid, using silicic acid columns. In two of three patients PGE₂-fraction values (21.9 and 21.6 pmol/g protein) were significantly higher than controls (10 ± 4). In eight AIDS patients and seven controls, PGE₂ levels were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography and radioimmunoassay (HPLC and RIA). In three out of eight patients PGE₂ levels were markedly higher (736, 419 and 208 pg/ml) than the mean + 2 s.d. values from controls (73 ± 51). We tested the effect of PGE₂ on the production of interleukin-2 by normal phytohemagglutinin-stimulated peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL). There was a significant suppression of interleukin-2 production by PGE₂ released from AIDS monocytes. PGE₂ may be one of the factors involved in the severe immune dysfunction associated with AIDS.