PRODUCTION OF PROSTAGLANDINS D-2 AND E(2) BY MOUSE FIBROBLASTS AND ASTROCYTES IN CULTURE CAUSED BY TRYPANOSOMA-BRUCEI-BRUCEI PRODUCTS AND ENDOTOXIN

A study was made to characterize the effects of living Trypanosoma bru cei brucei and its products on prostaglandin D-2 (PGD(2)) and PGE(2) p roduction by fibroblasts and astrocytes. Cultured fibroblasts were pre pared from Microtus agrestis embryos and astrocyte cultures were prepa red from neonatal rats. The cultures were maintained in low-endotoxin or defined media (i.e. endotoxin-free). The PG production was compared with and studied in combination with a defined lipopolysaccharide (LP S) from Escherichia coli. Living T. b. brucei were without effect on P G production. Preparations of T. b. brucei prepared by freeze-thawing and sonication produced dose- and time-dependent increases in PGD(2) a nd PGE(2) synthesis by both cell types. LPS caused a similar pattern o f increases. The combination of parasite products with LPS caused syne rgistic production to levels higher than the maximal production by eac h mitogen alone. The findings have important implications for several pathological features that accompany trypanosomiasis.