No evidence for a putative involvement of platelet-activating factor in systemic lupus erythematosus without active nephritis.
BACKGROUND
Platelet-activating factor (PAF) seems to be implicated in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with associated renal diseases.


OBJECTIVE
In this study, we ensured the role of PAF in SLE patients without renal complications.


METHODS
Blood PAF and acetylhydrolase activity, plasma soluble phospholipase A(2), and the presence of antibodies against PAF were investigated in 17 SLE patients without active nephritis and in 17 healthy controls.


RESULTS
Blood PAF levels were not different (p=0.45) between SLE patients (6.7+/-2.8 pg/ml) and healthy subjects (9.6+/-3.1 pg/ml). Plasma acetylhydrolase activity (the PAF-degrading enzyme) was significantly (p=0.03) elevated in SLE patients (57.8+/-6.4 nmol/min/ml) as compared with controls (37.9+/-2.6 nmol/min/ml). Plasma soluble phospholipase A(2) (the key enzyme for PAF formation) was not different (p=0.6) between SLE patients (59.1+/-5.1 U/ml) and controls (54.7+/-2.4 U/ml). Antibodies against PAF were detected only in 3/17 SLE patients. Flow cytometry analysis did not highlight PAF receptors on circulating leukocytes of SLE patients.


CONCLUSIONS
This clinical study highlights no evidence for a putative important role of PAF in SLE patients without active nephritis.
Denizot
Yves
Y
UMR CNRS 6101, Laboratoire d'Immunologie, Faculté de Médecine, 2 rue Dr Marcland, 87025 Limoges, France. yves.denizot@unilim.fr
Liozon
Eric
E
Guglielmi
Laurence
L
Ly
Kim
K
Soria
Pascale
P
Loustaud
Véronique
V
Vidal
Elisabeth
E
Jauberteau
Marie Odile
MO
D043203:1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase / Q000097:blood; D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008181:Lupus Nephritis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010741:Phospholipases A / Q000097:blood; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
D001323:Autoantibodies; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor; D010741:Phospholipases A; D043203:1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase