Increased blood levels of platelet-activating factor in insulin-dependent diabetic patients with microalbuminuria.
BACKGROUND
Platelet-activating factor (PAF), a phospholipid mediator of inflammation, may induce an enhanced size- and charge-dependent glomerular permeability in experimental animals. Studies on the role of PAF in enhanced glomerular permeability in the early phase of diabetic nephropathy are still lacking.


METHODS
We evaluated the intravascular levels of PAF and its main catabolic enzyme, the PAF-specific plasma acetyl-hydrolase (PAF-AH), in basal conditions and after exercise, in normo- or micro-albuminuric insulin-dependent diabetic (IDD) patients and in normal subjects.


RESULTS
The results obtained indicate that the concentration of PAF in whole blood was significantly enhanced in basal conditions, during and after exercise in all microalbuminuric IDD patients, but not in normoalbuminuric IDD or in control subjects. The increased concentration of PAF did not correlate with changes in the activity of PAF-AH, suggesting an enhanced production rather than a decreased catabolism of PAF.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate an association between increased production of PAF and enhanced glomerular permeability in microalbuminuric IDD patients.
Cavallo-Perin
P
P
Department of Internal Medicine and Department of Clinical Pathophysiology, University of Turin, Italy.
Lupia
E
E
Gruden
G
G
Olivetti
C
C
De Martino
A
A
Cassader
M
M
Furlani
D
D
Servillo
L
L
Quagliuolo
L
L
Iorio
E
E
Boccellino
M R
MR
Montrucchio
G
G
Camussi
G
G
D043203:1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase; D000328:Adult; D000419:Albuminuria / Q000097:blood*; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010741:Phospholipases A / Q000097:blood; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor / Q000032:analysis*; D012016:Reference Values
D010972:Platelet Activating Factor; D010741:Phospholipases A; D043203:1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase