title: Platelet-activating factor enhances interleukin-6 production by alveolar macrophages.
abstract: The production of the cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) by rat alveolar macrophages (AMs) was analyzed after their stimulation with muramyl dipeptide (1 microgram/ml), in the presence of graded concentrations of platelet-activating factor (PAF). Significantly enhanced production of IL-6 was observed at 10(-10) to 10(-8) mol/L PAF, with peak effect at 10(-10) mol/L. This enhancement was blocked by three structurally unrelated specific PAF receptor antagonists BN 52021, WEB 2170, and CV 3988. The biologically inactive PAF precursor/metabolite, lyso-PAF, and the enantiomer enantio-PAF failed to induce significant enhancement in IL-6 production. In parallel, addition of PAF to AM triggered leukotriene B4 (LTB4) release. Inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase pathway by AA-861 or MK 886 inhibited the PAF-induced augmentation of both IL-6 and LTB4 production, suggesting an implication of endogenous leukotrienes in this mechanism. Furthermore, addition of exogenous LTB4 to AMs could augment their IL-6 production, with peak activity at 10(-12) mol/L LTB4, and reverse the inhibitory effects of 5-lipoxygenase inhibitors. Taken together, these observations suggest that PAF can modulate lung immune and inflammatory responses by enhancing IL-6 production and that this activity may be dependent on secondary 5-lipoxygenase metabolites. This may have clinical relevance in PAF-mediated events in the lung, such as the cellular components of late-phase asthma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sherbrooke, Canada.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thivierge
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rola-Pleszczynski
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004224:Diterpenes; D046934:Ginkgolides; D007211:Indoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007783:Lactones / Q000494:pharmacology; D007975:Leukotriene B4 / Q000494:pharmacology; D016676:Macrophages, Alveolar / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D002722:Chlorobenzenes
chemical_list: D004224:Diterpenes; D046934:Ginkgolides; D007211:Indoles; D015850:Interleukin-6; D007783:Lactones; D007975:Leukotriene B4; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor; C060893:MK-886; D002722:Chlorobenzenes; C045856:ginkgolide B