title: Relationship between platelet activating factor acetylhydrolase activity and apolipoprotein B levels in patients with peanut allergy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is a highly potent phospholipid mediator responsible for the life-threatening manifestations of anaphylaxis. PAF acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH) inactivates PAF and protects against severe anaphylaxis whereas deficiency of PAF-AH predisposes to severe or fatal anaphylaxis. Determinants of PAF-AH activity have not been studied in patients with peanut allergy.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether plasma PAF-AH activity in patients with peanut allergy is related to formation of circulating complexes with apolipoprotein B (apoB) the main surface protein on low density lipoprotein particles.
  
  
  METHODS
  Plasma PAF-AH activity and apoB concentrations were measured in 63 peanut allergic patients (35 boys, 28 girls, ages 2 - 19 years). ApoB concentration was measured immunoturbidimetrically using goat anti-human apoB. The correlation between PAF-AH activity and apoB concentration was determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A positive correlation was found between PAF-AH activity and apoB concentration (r(2) = 0.59, P < 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In peanut allergic patients, PAF-AH activity strongly correlates with apoB concentration, suggesting the presence of circulating PAF-AH- lipoprotein complexes.
authors.affiliation: Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, 30 Bond St., M5B 1 W8 Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Boris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Perelman
authors.affiliation: Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, 30 Bond St., M5B 1 W8 Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Areej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Adil
authors.affiliation: Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, 30 Bond St., M5B 1 W8 Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vadas
keywords: Anaphylaxis; Apolipoprotein B (apoB); Low density lipoprotein (LDL); PAF-acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH); Platelet-activating factor (PAF)