title: Release, purification, and characterization of platelet-activating factor (PAF).
abstract: Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is a phospholipid mediator, released by basophils, macrophages and neutrophils under immunological and non immunological stimuli. It aggregates platelets and liberates their vasoactive contents. We studied the "spontaneous" release of PAF from hog blood leukocytes : optimal conditions were 22 degrees C, pH 9.5 in BSA and Ca2+-containing Tyrode's. This release was inhibited by the Ca2+-chelating agent, EDTA, and by the phospholipase A2 inhibitor, bromophenacyl bromide. Disruption of the cells did not yield PAF, indicating that it is not a "preformed" mediator. A preparative procedure for the extraction and purification of bulk quantities of PAF was developed. Purification was performed by silicic acid columns followed by high pressure liquid chromatography. The active fraction was eluted between sphingomyelin and lysophosphatidylcholine. The PAF purest fractions were still contaminated with these phospholipids as shown by thin layer chromatography and chemical ionization mass spectrometry. PAF activity was not affected by treatment with diazomethane, acetylation or hydrogenation. Our results combined with those obtained from our previous studies of the PAF structure using specific phospholipases indicate that PAF is a glycero-phospholipid devoid of ester function at position 1. This allowed us to establish precise criteria to distinguish PAF from other aggregating agents.
authors.affiliation: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Gif-sur-Yvette and Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Unité 131, Clamart (France).
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tencé
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Polonsky
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Le Couedic
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Benveniste
mesh_terms: D000098:Acetophenones / Q000737:chemistry; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000378:metabolism; D002118:Calcium / Q000737:chemistry; D002845:Chromatography / Q000379:methods; D004492:Edetic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D008244:Lysophosphatidylcholines / Q000737:chemistry; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D010741:Phospholipases A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D054467:Phospholipases A2; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000737:chemistry; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor / Q000737:chemistry*; D012824:Silicic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D000098:Acetophenones; D008244:Lysophosphatidylcholines; D010743:Phospholipids; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor; D012824:Silicic Acid; D004492:Edetic Acid; D010741:Phospholipases A; D054467:Phospholipases A2; C006821:4-bromophenacyl bromide; D002118:Calcium