Induction of cyclo‐oxygenase by interleukin‐1 in rheumatoid synovial cells

Abstract

The ability of interleukin-1 (IL-1) to stimulate prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂ production by human rheumatoid adherent synovial cells was found to be time-dependent and sensitive to protein synthesis inhibitors. Cells incubated with exogenous arachidonic acid (10 μM) showed no increase in PGE₂ production. However, with IL-1 (2.5 ) and exogenous arachidonic acid there was a marked increase, with levels reaching twice that for cells incubated with IL-1 alone. Aspirin pre-treatment studies and the use of [acetyl-¹⁴C]aspirin showed that IL-1 increased PGE₂ production through the induction of cyclo-oxygenase.