Culture medium oxygen tension affects fibronectin production in human adult and cord blood macrophages

Varying culture medium oxygen tension from one-half to twice the normal concentration did not alter adult or cord blood monocyte-derived macrophage secretion of lysozyme or total protein. Lowering oxygen tension did result in significant increases in fibronectin concentration in both adult and cord blood macrophage culture supernatants. Dexamethasone (10 −7 M) completely blocked adult macrophage but had no effect on cord blood macrophage fibronectin release in response to lowering oxygen tension. These results indicate that human macrophages selectively regulate fibronectin production in response to changes in oxygen tension in vitro.