title: Platelet activating factor: effects on bronchomotor tone and bronchial responsiveness in human beings.
abstract: Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is a newly discovered lipid mediator of inflammation. When inhaled by normal volunteers, it induces bronchoconstriction associated with facial flushing and with a transient fall in circulating neutrophils. Of greater interest is its ability to induce prolonged increases in bronchial responsiveness to methacholine. These observations support an important role for PAF in asthama; the availability of specific PAF antagonists will allow us to test this hypothesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Medicine, National Heart and Lung Institute, Brompton Hospital, London, England.
authors.forename: K F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Cuss
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Barnes
mesh_terms: D000403:Airway Resistance / Q000187:drug effects; D001249:Asthma / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests / Q000379:methods*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D016210:Methacholine Chloride; D008688:Methacholine Compounds; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000503:physiopathology; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor / Q000502:physiology* / Q000031:analogs & derivatives
chemical_list: D008688:Methacholine Compounds; C029271:O-deacetyl platelet activating factor; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor; D016210:Methacholine Chloride