title: No evidence for a putative involvement of platelet-activating factor in systemic lupus erythematosus without active nephritis.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: UMR CNRS 6101, Laboratoire d'Immunologie, Faculté de Médecine, 2 rue Dr Marcland, 87025 Limoges, France. yves.denizot@unilim.fr
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Denizot
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Liozon
authors.forename: Laurence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guglielmi
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ly
authors.forename: Pascale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Soria
authors.forename: Véronique
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Loustaud
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vidal
authors.forename: Marie Odile
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Jauberteau
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor; D010741:Phospholipases A; D043203:1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase