MODULATORS OF PROSTAGLANDIN E(2) SYNTHESIS IN HUMAN AMNION

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of these studies was to determine the effects o f the essential fatty acid, linoleic acid, and the commonly used non-s teroidal anti-inflammatory agents, aspirin and acetaminophen, on the r ate of prostaglandin (PG) biosynthesis by human amnion cells. METHODS: Amnion cells were isolated from term, normal pregnancies and grown to confluence. Cells were incubated with control or medium containing 10 0 mu mol/L linoleic acid. Cells were also incubated with control mediu m or medium containing 10 or 100 mu/mL aspirin or acetaminophen. RESUL TS: Following an initial delay, amnion cells exposed to linoleic acid exhibited a significant increase in PGE synthesis. Both aspirin and ac etaminophen in clinically relevant concentrations had a significant in hibitory effect on amnion cell PGE synthesis. CONCLUSIONS: Linoleic ac id has a stimulatory effect and aspirin and acetaminophen have an inhi bitory effect on PGE synthesis in human amnion cells in culture. We sp eculate that dietary habits, supplement ingestion, and over-the-counte r drug use may affect amnion cell PG production. In view of the potent ial importance of intrauterine PG production in normal and abnormal la bor, further study in this area is indicated.