title: Impaired anaphylactic responses with intact sensitivity to endotoxin in mice lacking a platelet-activating factor receptor.
abstract: Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is a potent phospholipid mediator with diverse biological activities in addition to its well-known ability to stimulate platelet aggregation. Pharmacologic studies had suggested a role for PAF in pregnancy, neuronal cell migration, anaphylaxis, and endotoxic shock. Here we show that disruption of the PAF receptor gene in mice caused a marked reduction in systemic anaphylactic symptoms. Unexpectedly, however, the PAF receptor-deficient mice developed normally, were fertile, and remained sensitive to bacterial endotoxin. These mutant mice clearly show that PAF plays a dominant role in eliciting anaphylaxis, but that it is not essential for reproduction, brain development, or endotoxic shock.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113, Japan.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ishii
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kuwaki
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nagase
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Maki
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tashiro
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sunaga
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kume
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fukuchi
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ikuta
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Miyazaki
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kumada
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shimizu
mesh_terms: D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D018390:Gene Targeting; D006321:Heart / Q000502:physiology; D006706:Homeostasis; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010980:Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D012098:Reproduction; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D010980:Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; C039351:platelet activating factor receptor