title: Platelet-activating factor (PAF) induced cytokine production and otitis media with effusion (OME) in the rat middle ear.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We examined the effect of platelet-activating factor (PAF) on IL-8 production in cultured rat middle ear epithelial cells (RMECs), and the concentrations of cytokine, PAF, and PAF-acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH) were also examined in the PAF-induced experimental OME (otitis media with effusion) of rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using an enzyme-linked immunospecific assay, we measured the levels of cytokines in the cultured RMECs and the PAF-induced OME of rats. The PAF was quantitated by the platelet-aggregating activity and the PAF-AH was measured by radioimmunoassay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both PAF and C-PAF, which is a stable analogue of PAF, significantly induced production of IL-8 in the RMECs in a dose-dependent manner. The PAF-induced IL-8 production was abolished by co-incubation with WEB2170, a specific PAF receptor antagonist. The concentrations of the cytokines and PAF in the PAF-induced OME of rats were higher on day 1 and the PAF and cytokine levels seemed to correspond well with the persistence of OME.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PAF may stimulate the local production of cytokines and may induce OME in the middle ear.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Kansai Medical University, 2-3-1 Shinmachi, Hirakata, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Manabu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ogura
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Furukawa
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tada
authors.forename: Hiroki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ikeda
authors.forename: Toshio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamashita
mesh_terms: D043203:1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D010034:Otitis Media with Effusion / Q000276:immunology*; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D016209:Interleukin-8; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor; D043203:1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase