RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Decreased arachidonic acid release in peripheral blood monocytes of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. JF The Journal of Rheumatology JO J Rheumatol FD The Journal of Rheumatology SP 2012 OP 2017 VO 28 IS 9 A1 S Sipka A1 S Szántó A1 K Szucs A1 I Kovács A1 E Kiss A1 P Antal-Szamás A1 G Lakos A1 M Aleksza A1 A Illés A1 P Gergely A1 G Szegedi YR 2001 UL http://www.jrheum.org/content/28/9/2012.abstract AB OBJECTIVE: To investigate the release of arachidonic acid (AA) in unfractionated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), separated monocytes and T lymphocytes of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS: AA release was measured in cells from 56 patients with SLE and from 48 controls. Of the 56 patients with SLE, 38 were receiving glucocorticosteroids and 18 were not. [3H]AA was incorporated into the membranes of PBMC and purified subsets of monocytes and T lymphocytes. The release of [3H]AA was measured both in nonstimulated cells cultured for 24 h and in cell cultures stimulated by phorbol ester (PMA) and Ca2+ ionophore for 4 h. RESULTS: In the PBMC of SLE patients not taking glucocorticosteroids, the release of AA was decreased in both stimulated and nonstimulated cells. There was a decrease of AA production in monocytes but not in T lymphocytes. This phenomenon could be observed in the active and inactive phases of the disease. CONCLUSION: A defect in AA production may exist in the peripheral monocytes of patients with SLE, resulting in decreased release of AA in patients not receiving glucocorticosteroid therapy.