Effect of blood transfusions on immune function. III. Alterations in macrophage arachidonic acid metabolism
J. P. Waymack, L. Gallon, U. Barcelli, O. Trocki and J. W. Alexander
Blood transfusions have been shown to prevent allograft rejection, to
increase the rate of tumor growth, and to increase susceptibility to
infectious complications. We evaluated the mechanism of this
immunosuppression by studying the effect of transfusions on macrophage
function in a Lewis rat model. Allogeneic transfusions were found to
decrease macrophage migration in response to inflammatory stimuli and to
increase their production of the strongly immunosuppressive arachidonic
acid metabolite prostaglandin E. Syngeneic transfusions did not alter
macrophage migration or arachidonic acid metabolism. The immunosuppression
seen following transfusions appears to be related to an increased synthesis
of prostaglandin E.
