Fig. 1.

Effect of mast cell supernatants on T helper type 2 (Th2) cytokine production. Th2 cells were incubated with mast cell supernatants (1:2 dilution) (open bars) from unactivated mast cells (UMS), mast cells activated with immunoglobulin E (IgE)/anti-IgE (AMS) or diclofenac-treated mast cells activated with IgE/anti-IgE (DAMS) in the presence or absence of prostaglandin D₂ (PGD₂) as indicated for 5 h. Responses of Th2 cells to X-VIVO 15 medium or PGD₂ alone are also shown as controls (black bars). The concentrations of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5 and IL-13 in the incubation media were measured by enzyme immunoassay. Results are presented mean ± standard error of the mean (n = 4–6). P < 0·0001 by analysis of variance. P > 0·05 by Newman–Keuls test for (IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13) no additive versus UMS/DAMS, UMS versus DAMS, 100 nM PGD₂versus AMS; (IL-5 and IL-13) 100 nM PGD₂/AMS versus DAMS + 100 nM PGD₂; n = 4–6.