title: Platelet-activating factor in surfactant preparations.
abstract: Surfactant administration is used for treatment of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome. We studied whether currently used surfactant preparations contain platelet-activating factor (PAF), a potent lipid mediator produced by fetal lungs. Three surfactant preparations from animal sources contained between 36 and 218 pmol of PAF per mL, whereas PAF was undetectable in an artificial surfactant. Based on current recommendations, about 144-654 pmol PAF would be administered per dose of natural surfactant, sufficient to exert possible physiological effects on the lung. The action of PAF may be exacerbated by low activity of PAF-acetylhydrolase, which inactivates PAF, in tracheal fluid from infants with respiratory distress syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas 75235.
authors.forename: F R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Moya
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Hoffman
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Johnston
mesh_terms: D043203:1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase; D000818:Animals; D001688:Biological Products; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005233:Fatty Alcohols / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010741:Phospholipases A / Q000378:metabolism; D010743:Phospholipids; D010767:Phosphorylcholine; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor / Q000032:analysis*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000032:analysis; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants / Q000032:analysis*; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy; D014132:Trachea / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001688:Biological Products; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005233:Fatty Alcohols; D010743:Phospholipids; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants; D010767:Phosphorylcholine; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C047049:dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine, hexadecanol, tyloxapol drug combination; D010741:Phospholipases A; D043203:1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase; C068291:poractant alfa; C072197:beractant