BACKGROUND Human monocyte-derived macrophages synthesize numerous proinflammatory and prothrombotic substances, including lipid mediators, such as platelet-activating factor (PAF), which may play a major role in the onset and perpetuation of atherosclerotic lesions. In addition, both monocytes and macrophages express PAF receptors (PAF-R). The expression of PAF-R is transcriptionally downregula...

Introduction: Prevalence of obesity has been increased in Iran over the recent decades. Little is known about fraction of hypertension attributable to obesity in Iran. This study aimed to determine the population attributable fraction (PAF) of hypertension due to obesity across different provinces of Iran. Materials & Method: Data on prevalence of hypertension, were extracted from Iranian Mi...

Exposure of neutrophils to agents such as lipopolysaccharide, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and the granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor causes a major upregulation of subsequent agonist-induced NADPH oxidase activation. This priming effect is a prerequisite for neutrophil-mediated tissue damage and has been widely considered to be an irreversible process. We have investi...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is a lipid mediator involved in the pathophysiology of several allergic diseases, for example, in the amplification of mast cell (MC) activation in anaphylaxis. Rupatadine is an antihistamine with a demonstrated anti-PAF effect, although its capacity to inhibit PAF-induced MC degranulation has not been fully evaluated. Objectives: To comp...

BACKGROUND Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is a proinflammatory phospholipid mediator involved in the pathogenesis of glomerulonephritis (GN). In plasma, PAF is hydrolyzed and inactivated by PAF-acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH), an enzyme associated with lipoproteins, mainly with the low-density lipoprotein. PAF-AH activity has been found in urine of patients with primary GN, however the source and ty...

Platelet-activating factor (PAF), a potent signaling lipid implicated as a mediator of pathological responses, has both negative chronotropic and inotropic effects on the heart, although the mechanism(s) involved is not well defined. Because activation of the muscarinic acetylcholine-activated K' current (IK(ACh)) also produces a negative chronotropic and inotropic response in myocardium, this ...

Imbalance in the network of soluble mediators may play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS). In this study, we demonstrated that KS cells grown in vitro produced and in part released platelet activating factor (PAF), a powerful lipid mediator of inflammation and cell-to-cell communication. IL-1, TNF, and thrombin enhanced the synthesis of PAF. PAF receptor mRNA and specif...

OBJECTIVES Postoperative atrial fibrillation (PAF) occurs commonly following pulmonary resection. Our aims were to quantify the incidence and severity of PAF using the Thoracic Morbidity & Mortality classification system, and identify risk factors for PAF. METHODS All consecutive patients undergoing pulmonary resection at a single centre (January 2008 - April 2010) were enrolled. PAF was defi...

Methods An isolated model of the rat small bowel (1) was used. Intestines were stimulated with a 0.5 nmol PAF bolus via the mesenteric artery alone (PAF, n=5) or after pretreatment with IBMX (100μM) and forskolin (0.5μM) for 20 min (PAF+PDE/AC, n=4) to increase intracellular cAMP by inhibition of phosphodiesterase (PDE) and stimulation of adenylate cyclase (AC). The pressure responses, the vasc...

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is a potent phospholipid mediator with diverse biological activities in addition to its well-known ability to stimulate platelet aggregation. Pharmacologic studies had suggested a role for PAF in pregnancy, neuronal cell migration, anaphylaxis, and endotoxic shock. Here we show that disruption of the PAF receptor gene in mice caused a marked reduction in systemi...