title: Platelet-activating factor receptor-deficient mice show an unaltered clearance of nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae from their respiratory tract.
abstract: Platelet-activating factor (PAF), a glycerophospholipid with proinflammatory properties, exerts its biological effects by interacting with the PAF receptor (PAFR) expressed on many different cell types. The PAFR specifically binds phosphorylcholine, the biologically active component of PAF. However, phosphorylcholine is also a component of the cell wall of nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi). In recently published in vitro experiments, the invasion of respiratory epithelial cells by NTHi was mediated by the PAFR. To determine the role of the PAFR in host defense against pneumonia induced by NTHi, PAFR-deficient (PAFR-/-) and normal wild-type mice were intranasally inoculated with NTHi. The absence of a functional PAFR was associated with a normal innate immune response as indicated by similar bacterial counts, myeloperoxidase activity, and inflammation within the pulmonary compartment of PAFR-/- and wild-type mice. These data indicate that the PAFR does not interfere with the clearance of NTHi from the respiratory tract.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Internal Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands. j.branger@amc.uva.nl
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Branger
authors.forename: Catharina W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Wieland
authors.forename: Sandrine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Florquin
authors.forename: Nico A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Maris
authors.forename: Jennie M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Pater
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Speelman
authors.forename: Takao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ishii
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: van der Poll
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D054426:Chemokine CXCL2; D018925:Chemokines / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006192:Haemophilus Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008168:Lung / Q000201:enzymology / Q000382:microbiology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D010980:Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000201:enzymology / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D054426:Chemokine CXCL2; D018925:Chemokines; C404915:Cxcl2 protein, mouse; D016207:Cytokines; D010980:Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; C039351:platelet activating factor receptor; D009195:Peroxidase