Platelet-activating factor: a phospholipid autacoid with diverse actions

Platelet-activating factor: a phospholipid autacoid with diverse actions.

Platelet-activating factor (PAF, 1-0-alkyl-2-acetyl-snglycero-3-phosphocholine) is a potent biological mediator that exerts its effects in a variety of cells and tissues (1-3). This phospholipid mediator was discovered during concurrent investigations of a factor derived from the blood of rabbits undergoing anaphylaxis that activated platelets, and an endogenous polar lipid from kidney that low...

Effect of a cigarette smoke extract on the metabolism of the proinflammatory autacoid, platelet-activating factor.

Cigarette smoking is associated with an increased incidence of a number of diseases. Minimal information is available at the molecular level concerning the mechanism of action of cigarette smoke. Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is one of the most potent proinflammatory agents described. PAF concentration may be regulated by the degradation of PAF as catalyzed by the plasma enzyme, PAF acetylhy...

Endothelium from diverse vascular sources synthesizes platelet-activating factor.

Stimulation of cultured bovine endothelial cells from aorta, pulmonary artery, coronary artery, and vena cava with calcium ionophore A23187, adenosine triphosphate (ATP), bradykinin, and angiotensin II resulted in production of platelet-activating factor (PAF), 1-O-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine. In pulmonary artery endothelial cells, maximal accumulation occurred within 20 minutes,...

Connective tissue activation. XIV. Composition and actions of a human platelet autacoid mediator.

Connective tissue activating peptide-III (CTAP-III) isolated from human platelets is a potent mitogen for human connective tissue cells in culture in addition to stimulating glycosaminoglycan synthesis, glucose consumption, and lactate formation. The amino acid composition of apparently homogeneous CTAP-III was determined, confirming the presence of two disulfide links and providing a calculate...

Platelet activating factor revisited.