Platelet-activating factor in cirrhotic liver and hepatocellular carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is a pro-inflammatory and angiogenic lipid mediator. Here we aimed to investigate levels of PAF, lyso-PAF (the PAF precursor), phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2), the enzymatic activity generating lyso-PAF), acetylhydrolase activity (AHA, the PAF degrading enzyme) and PAF receptor (PAF-R) transcripts in cirrhotic liver and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).


METHODS
Twenty-nine patients with HCC were enrolled in this study. Cirrhosis was present in fourteen patients and seven had no liver disease. Tissue PAF levels were investigated by a platelet-aggregation assay. Lyso-PAF was assessed after its chemical acetylation into PAF. AHA was determined by degradation of [(3)H]-PAF. PLA(2) levels were assessed by EIA. PAF-R transcripts were investigated using RT-PCR.


RESULTS
Elevated amounts of PAF and PAF-R transcripts 1 (leukocyte-type) were found in cirrhotic tissues as compared with non-cirrhotic ones. Higher amounts of PAF and PAF-R transcripts 1 and 2 (tissue-type) were found in HCC tissues as compared with non-tumor tissues. PLA(2), lyso-PAF and AHA levels were not changed in cirrhotic tissues and HCC.


CONCLUSIONS
While the role of PAF is currently unknown in liver physiology, this study suggests its potential involvement in the inflammatory network found in the cirrhotic liver and in the angiogenic response during HCC.
Mathonnet
Muriel
M
Service de Chirurgie Digestive, Endcrinienne et Générale, CHU Dupuytren, 2 avenue Luther King, 87042 Limoges, France.
Descottes
Bernard
B
Valleix
Denis
D
Truffinet
Véronique
V
Labrousse
Francois
F
Denizot
Yves
Y
D043203:1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase / Q000235:genetics; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000503:physiopathology; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000503:physiopathology; D010741:Phospholipases A / Q000235:genetics; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D010980:Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
C029271:O-deacetyl platelet activating factor; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor; D010980:Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; C039351:platelet activating factor receptor; D010741:Phospholipases A; D043203:1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase