title: Platelet-activating factor (PAF-acether), an activator of neutrophil functions.
abstract: The effect of totally synthetic PAF-acether (1-O-octadecyl-2-O-acetyl-sn-glyceryl-3-phosphorylcholine), 2-lyso PAF-acether (1-O-octadecyl-sn-glyceryl-3-phosphorylcholine) and lyso-phosphatidylcholine on enzyme release and superoxide production from human polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN were studied. PMN (2 X 10(6) ml-1) were incubated at 37 degrees C with various concentrations of phospholipids in the absence of cytochalasin B. At 10(-7) M, PAF-acether induced superoxide production and beta-glucuronidase, acid phosphatase and lysosyme release, but not that of cytoplasmic lactic dehydrogenase. In the same condition 2-lyso PAF-acether and lyso-phosphatidylcholine were ineffective. In the presence of phagocytic stimuli PAF-acether enhanced in the range from 10(-7) M to 10(-10) M the enzyme release and only at 10(-7) M the superoxide production. Thus, the capacity of PAF-acether to stimulate PMN, as well as platelet function, indicates a prominent role for this lipid mediator in inflammatory processes.
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D009113:Muramidase / Q000378:metabolism; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C029271:O-deacetyl platelet activating factor; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor; D013481:Superoxides; D009113:Muramidase