Structural analogs of platelet-activating factor (PAF-acether)

Direct Growth Inhibitory Effect of Platelet Activating Factor C-16 and Its Structural Analogs on Mycobacteria

Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis, is one of the leading causes of human deaths due to a single infectious agent. M. tuberculosis infection of the host initiates a local inflammatory response, resulting in the production of a range of inflammatory factors at the site of infection. These inflammatory factors may come in direct contact with M. tuberculosis and immune cells to activate different signaling pathways. One such factor produced in excess during inflammation is a phospholipid compound, Platelet Activating Factor C-16 (PAF C-16). In this study, PAF C-16 was shown to have a direct inhibitory effect on the growth of Mycobacterium bovis BCG (M. bovis BCG) and Mycobacterium smegmatis (M. smegmatis) in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Use of a range of PAF C-16 structural analogs, including the precursor form Lyso-PAF, revealed that small modifications in the structure of PAF C-16 did not alter its mycobacterial growth inhibitory properties. Subsequent experiments suggested that the attachment of aliphatic carbon tail via ether bond to the glycerol backbone of PAF C-16 was likely to play a vital role in its growth inhibition ability against mycobacteria. Fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry using Propidium iodide (PI) indicated that PAF C-16 treatment had a damaging effect on the cell membrane of M. bovis BCG and M. smegmatis. Furthermore, the growth inhibitory effect of PAF C-16 was partially mitigated by treatment with membrane-stabilizing agents, α-tocopherol and Tween-80, which further suggests that the growth inhibitory effect of PAF C-16 was mediated through bacterial cell membrane damage.

Copper-catalyzed oxidation mediates PAF formation in human LDL subspecies. Protective role of PAF:acetylhydrolase in dense LDL

Free radical-mediated oxidation of cholesterol-rich LDL plays a key role in atherogenesis and involves the formation of oxidized phospholipids with proinflammatory biological activity. We evaluated the production of platelet-activating factor (PAF), a potent inflammatory mediator, in human LDL subspecies on copper-initiated oxidation (4 mumol/L CuCl2, 80 micrograms/mL for hours at 37 degrees C). PAF formation was determined by biological assay of HPLC-purified lipid extracts of copper-oxidized lipoproteins; chemical identity was confirmed by gas chromatographic and mass spectrometric analyses. PAF, characterized as the C16:0 molecular species, was preferentially produced in intermediate LDL (d = 1.029 to 1.039 g/mL) (8.6 +/- 5.7 pmol PAF/3 h per mg LDL protein) and light LDL (d = 1.019 to 1.029 g/mL), but was absent from dense LDL particles (d = 1.050 to 1.063 g/mL). As PAF:acetylhydrolase inactivates PAF and oxidized forms of phosphatidylcholine, we evaluated the relationship of lipoprotein-associated PAF:acetylhydrolase to PAF formation. We confirmed that PAF:acetylhydrolase activity was elevated in native, dense LDL (41.5 +/- 9.5 nmol/min per mg protein) but low in LDL subspecies of light and intermediate density (d 1.020 to 1.039 g/mL) (3.5 +/- 1.6 nmol/min per mg protein) [Tselepis et al, Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 1995;15:1764-1773]. On copper-mediated oxidation for 3 hours at 37 degrees C, dense LDL particles conserved 20 +/- 14% of their initial enzymatic activity; in contrast, PAF:acetylhydrolase activity was abolished in light and intermediate LDL subspecies. Clearly, the elevated PAF:acetylhydrolase activity of dense LDL efficiently diminishes the potential inflammatory role of endogenously formed PAF; nonetheless, formation of proatherogenic lysophospholipids results. In contrast, LDL particles of the light and intermediate subclasses can accumulate PAF on oxidative modification.

Expression of the PAF receptor in human monocyte-derived macrophages is downregulated by oxidized LDL: relevance to the inflammatory phase of atherogenesis

Human monocyte-derived macrophages play a major role in the initiation and progression of atherosclerotic lesions as a result of the production of a wide spectrum of proinflammatory and prothrombotic factors. Among such factors is a potent inflammatory phospholipid, platelet-activating factor (PAF), which is produced after macrophage activation. Because the cells involved in PAF biosynthesis are typically targets for the bioactions of PAF via specific cell surface receptors, we evaluated the expression of the PAF receptor in human monocyte-derived macrophages. Oxidized LDL (oxLDL) exerts multiple cellular effects that enhance lesion progression; we therefore investigated the potential modulation of expression of the macrophage PAF receptor by oxLDL. [3H]PAF bound to adherent human macrophages with a K(d) of 2.1 nmol/L and a B(max) of 19 fmol/10(6) cells; approximately 5300 binding sites per cell were detected. OxLDL (100 microg protein per milliliter) induced a twofold decrease in cellular PAF binding after 3 hours at 37 degrees C. Analysis of macrophage mRNA by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) revealed two forms corresponding to the PAF receptor, of which the leukocyte type (type 1 promoter) predominated. Expression of PAF receptor mRNA, evaluated by quantitative RT-PCR using an actin or a GAPDH mimic, was progressively reduced (up to 70%) by oxLDL up to 6 hours and remained low for at least 24 hours. Such downregulation was reversible after incubation of the cells for 24 hours in oxLDL-free medium. Addition of forskolin (3 micromol/L) or dibutyryl cAMP (1 mmol/L) to macrophage cultures reproduced the oxLDL-mediated inhibition of PAF receptor expression; carbamyl PAF reduced PAF binding and PAF mRNA to a similar degree (approximately 50%). These data demonstrate that atherogenic oxLDL downregulates the expression of both cellular PAF receptors and PAF receptor mRNA in macrophages, consistent with both a diminished bioresponse to PAF and decreased cell motility. Such diminished bioresponse to a powerful antacoid reflects the suppression of an acute inflammatory reaction, thereby leading to chronic, low-level inflammation, such as that characteristic of fatty streaks and more advanced atherosclerotic plaques.

Phagocytic activation induces formation of platelet-activating factor in human monocyte-derived macrophages and in macrophage-derived foam cells. Relevance to the inflammatory reaction in atherogenesis

Monocyte-derived macrophages and macrophage-derived foam cells in arterial tissue may undergo phagocytic activation and thereby contribute to an inflammatory reaction. We have investigated the effect of phagocytic activation on the formation of platelet-activating factor (1-0-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, PAF-acether, PAF), a proinflammatory phospholipid, in human monocyte-derived macrophages (macrophages) and in cholesterol-loaded macrophage foam cells (foam cells). Adherent human monocyte-derived macrophages were transformed into foam cells upon incubation with acetylated low-density lipoproteins (Ac-LDL). Such foam cells characteristically displayed a markedly increased content of cholesteryl esters compared with macrophages (4.3 +/- 1.3 microgram/microgram DNA and 0.2 +/- 0.3 microgram/microgram DNA, n = 5, respectively). After phagocytic stimulation with serum-opsonized zymosan (OPZ), both macrophages and foam cells synthesized PAF transiently with maximal production (0.5-1.1 pmol PAF/microgram DNA, n = 5, corresponding to 4.0-8.8 pmol PAF/10(6) cells, as assessed by bioassay) occurring approximately 15 min after stimulation. A major fraction of the synthesized PAF remained cell-associated; such PAF was composed mainly of the hexadecyl (16:0 PAF, approximately 75%) and the octadecenyl (18:1 PAF) species and of trace amounts of octadecyl (18:0 PAF), as assessed by reverse-phase liquid chromatography. Addition of exogenous 16:0 lyso-PAF alone triggered PAF formation (0.9-1.7 pmol PAF/microgram DNA, after 15 min of cellular stimulation); simultaneous cellular stimulation with OPZ and 16:0 lyso-PAF increased PAF formation in an additive manner. Acetyltransferase, the enzyme which acetylates the precursor lyso-PAF and transforms it into PAF, displayed elevated activity both in macrophages and in foam cells, attaining 83-240 pmol PAF formed per min per mg DNA (n = 4); such elevated activity was not increased by OPZ-stimulation. The activity of acetylhydrolase, the PAF-degrading enzyme, was similar in macrophages and in foam cells, and varied between 120 pmol and 320 pmol PAF degraded per min per mg DNA (n = 5). Cell-associated acetylhydrolase activity was increased significantly by 40+/-15 % (P < 0.003, n = 5) after 15 - 30 min of activation with OPZ compared with non-stimulated cells and may account for the rapid decrease in cellular PAF content observed approximately 30 min after stimulation. These studies have established that metabolism of PAF in foam cells closely resembles that in macrophages, and thus PAF metabolism is largely independent of cellular cholesterol content. Moreover our data are consistent with the hypothesis that both macrophages and macrophage-derived foam cells upon phagocytic-activation constitute a significant transient source of PAF at inflammatory sites in the arterial intima where this phospholipidic mediator may exert potent proatherogenic and prothrombotic effects.

Inhibition of PAF-induced human platelet aggregation by antithrombotic nipecotomides

Nipecotamides (piperidine-3-carboxamides) are potent inhibitors of platelet aggregation induced by a variety of agonists in vitro and in vivo. The inhibitory effects of six structural types of nipecotamides on human platelet aggregation induced by platelet-activating factor (PAF) in vitro, are studied. Evaluation of 15 racemates and stereoisomers of two nipecotamides showed that bis-nipecotoyl alkanes were more active than their mono congeners. Mono- and bis-nipecotoyl decanes were more potent than the corresponding hexanes. Lipophilicity was found to play a significant role in the antiplatelet activity of these compounds. The stereoselectivity in the PAF-antagonist potential of nipecotamides was less pronounced than that resulting from their action on ADP- or collagen-induced aggregation. Oxidation of the two benzylic carbon atoms of alpha, alpha'-bis[3-(N,N-diethylcarbamoyl)piperidino]-p-xylene.2HBr (A-1) to form 1,4-bis[3-N,N-diethylcarbamoyl) piperidino]benzenedicarboxamide (A-40K), which has a second set of carbonyl oxygens but lacks basic N atoms, resulted in a remarkable loss of ADP-antagonist potency while retaining PAF-antagonist activity. It is suggested that in addition to their membrane effects, nipecotamides act at other sites, including the PAF receptor. Double reciprocal plots of PAF binding to gel-filtered platelets (GFP) in the presence and absence of a typical nipecotamide (A-1C) were indicative of competitive inhibition (Ki = 19.28 microM). Scatchard analysis of 3H-PAF binding to GFP suggested the presence of high, intermediate (I) and low affinity binding sites, of which the I site gave a KD/app of 0.332 nM with an estimated 564 sites/platelet. Key interactions of nipecotamides with the PAF receptor appear to be the following (i) electrostatic interactions of the two amide oxygens with a primary set of electropositive areas spaced at 5-7 A, (ii) in the case of appropriate compounds, electrostatic interactions of the two amide oxygens spaced at 10-12 A with corresponding secondary receptor sites carrying positive electrostatic potential, (iii) a hydrophobic moiety fitting into a hydrophobic pocket in the receptor, and (iv) the cationic piperidine N+ (at pH 7.4) interacting with a counterion, probably aspartic acid.

Structure and thermotropic properties of 1-stearoyl-2-acetyl-phosphatidylcholine bilayer membranes

The structural and thermotropic properties of 1-stearoyl-2-acetyl-phosphatidylcholine (C(18):C(2)-PC) were studied as a function of hydration. A combination of differential scanning calorimetry and x-ray diffraction techniques have been used to investigate the phase behavior of C(18):C(2)-PC. At low hydration (e.g., 20% H2O), the differential scanning calorimetry heating curve shows a single reversible endothermic transition at 44.6 degrees C with transition enthalpy delta H = 6.4 kcal/mol. The x-ray diffraction pattern at -8 degrees C shows a lamellar structure with a small bilayer periodicity d = 46.3 A and two wide angle reflections at 4.3 and 3.95 A, characteristic of a tilted chain, L beta' bilayer gel structure. Above the main transition temperature, a liquid crystalline L alpha phase is observed with d = 53.3 A. Electron density profiles at 20% hydration suggest that C(18):C(2)-PC forms a fully interdigitated bilayer at -8 degrees C and a noninterdigitated, liquid crystalline phase above its transition temperature (T > Tm). Between 30 and 50% hydration, on heating C(18):C(2)-PC converts from a highly ordered, fully interdigitated gel phase (L beta') to a less ordered, interdigitated gel phase (L beta), which on further heating converts to a noninterdigitated liquid crystalline L alpha phase. However, the fully hydrated (> 60% H2O) C(18):C(2)-PC, after incubation at 0 degrees C, displays three endothermic transitions at 8.9 degrees C (transition I, delta H = 1.6 kcal/mol), 18.0 degrees C (transition II), and 20.1 degrees C (transition III, delta HII+III = 4.8 kcal/mol). X-ray diffraction at -8 degrees C again showed a lamellar gel phase (L beta') with a small periodicity d = 52.3 A. At 14 degrees C a less ordered, lamellar gel phase (L beta) is observed with d = 60.5 A. However, above the transition III, a broad, diffuse reflection is observed at approximately 39 A, consistent with the presence of a micellar phase. The following scheme is proposed for structural changes of fully hydrated C(18):C(2)-PC, occurring with temperature: L beta' (interdigitated)-->L beta (interdigitated)-->L alpha(noninterdigitated)-->Micelles. Thus, at low temperature C(18):C(2)-PC forms a bilayer gel phase (L beta') at all hydrations, whereas above the main transition temperature it forms a bilayer liquid crystalline phase L alpha at low hydrations and a micellar phase at high hydrations (> 60 wt% water).

Platelet-aggregating effects of platelet-activating factor-like phospholipids formed by oxidation of phosphatidylcholines containing an sn-2-polyunsaturated fatty acyl group

Previously, we reported the formation of four kinds of phosphatidylcholines (PC) with a short-chain monocarboxylate, dicarboxylate, dicarboxylate semialdehyde or omega-hydroxymonocarboxylate group by oxidation of PCs containing polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) in an FeSO4/ascorbate/EDTA system. In this study, we identified these novel phospholipids by GC-MS as oxidation products of two alkyl ether-linked PCs, 1-O-hexadecyl-2-docosahexaenoyl and 1-O-hexadecyl-2-arachidonoyl-sn-glycero-3- phosphocholine (GPC). The sn-2-acyl moieties of oxidatively fragmented PCs derived from PCs containing docosahexaenoate were one methylene unit shorter than those detected as major oxidation products of PCs containing arachidonate. The platelet-aggregations induced by the oxidized PCs were all inhibited by FR-900452, an antagonist of platelet activating factor (PAF). The PAF-like activity of oxidized 1-O-hexadecyl-2-docosahexaenoyl-GPC, which was equivalent of 1372 +/- 262 pmol 16:0-PAF/mumol starting PC, was 5 times that of oxidized 1-O-hexadecyl-2-arachidonoyl-GPC and 150 times that of oxidized 1-palmitoyl-2-docosahexaenoyl-GPC, suggesting that both an sn-1-alkyl ether linkage and an sn-2-acyl group with a short chain length are important structural requirements for induction of platelet aggregation. These possibilities were confirmed by experiments on the platelet-aggregating activities of synthetic PAF-like compounds. Quantitative measurements by GC-MS of PAF-like phospholipids formed by lipid peroxidation and the activities of synthetic PAF-like phospholipids, suggested that the activities of most oxidized PCs containing PUFA were ascribable to those of PCs with an sn-2-short-chain monocarboxylate group.

Synthesis of 1-palmitoyl-2-hexadecyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (PHPC)

A general method for the chirospecific synthesis of 1-acyl-2-alkyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholines is described. 1-Palmitoyl-2-hexadecyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (PHPC) was synthesized in 18% overall yield in ten steps via five new synthetic intermediates, and 1-acetyl-2-hexadecyl-sn-glycero-3- phosphocholine (AHPC) was also synthesized. 1-Acyl-2-alkyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholines, which have not been found to exist in nature, are ether lipid analogs of 1,2-diacyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholines, which are important components of cell membranes. Biophysical studies of hydrated bilayers of PHPC will be of interest in probing the critical importance of the central region of these amphiphilic molecules to the molecular assemblies that are formed.

The metabolism of 1-acyl-PAF in rabbit platelets and its possible interaction with PAF

The metabolism of 1-acyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (1-acyl-PAF), a naturally occurring analogue of platelet activating factor (PAF), was investigated in rabbit platelets. Our studies showed that 1-acyl-[3H]PAF (1-palmitoyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho[N-methyl-3H]-choline) was converted by platelets into phosphatidyl-[3H]choline [( 3H]PC) in a time-dependent fashion. The formation of [3H]PC occurred at a rate similar to that observed when lyso-[3H]PC (palmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho[N-methyl-3H]choline) was used as substrate. In addition, a time-dependent increase in the level of water-soluble radioactivity was observed during the incubation of platelets with either 1-acyl-[3H]PAF or lyso-[3H]PC. This increase was parallel to the formation of [3H]PC and was not observed in the presence of [14C]PAF (1-octadecyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho[N methyl-14C]-choline). Analysis by thin-layer chromatography showed that the soluble radioactivity was mainly associated with glycerophosphocholine (GPC). On the other hand, the preincubation of platelets with phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, an inhibitor of the acetylhydrolase, reduced the hydrolysis of 1-acyl-[3H]PAF to [3H]GPC with a concomitant accumulation of radioactivity in 1-acyl-PAF. These findings suggest that 1-acyl-PAF is converted into PC through deacetylation-reacylation with lysoPC as an obligatory intermediate. The findings also indicate that the lysoPC resulting from 1-acyl-PAF is either reacylated to phosphatidylcholine (PC) or hydrolyzed to GPC by lysophospholipase. Finally, we showed that the stimulation of platelets with PAF led to a time- and concentration-dependent increase in the conversion of 1-acyl-[3H]PAF to [3H]PC.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Protein kinase C is not involved in the desensitization of platelet activating factor receptor in rabbit platelets

Rabbit platelets pretreated with platelet activating factor (PAF) became refractory to further stimulation by PAF. The effect was specific for PAF. In this study, the alteration in the specific agonist binding to PAF receptor in platelets following desensitization was investigated. As revealed by the Scatchard analysis of radioligand binding data, the affinity for specific PAF binding to desensitized platelet membranes was substantially lowered as compared with that to control platelet membranes. Guanine nucleotide triphosphate, which was shown to decrease the affinity of specific PAF binding to platelet membranes, had less effect on the PAF binding affinity to the desensitized preparation. In platelets pretreated with phorbol 12-myristate-13-acetate, the binding affinity of PAF receptor remained unaltered. Pretreatment of platelets with 1-(5-isoquinolinesulphonyl)-2-methylpiperazine, a protein kinase C inhibitor, or neomycin, an inhibitor of the polyphosphoinositide breakdown, failed to prevent the reduction of specific PAF binding affinity following subsequent exposure to PAF. These results suggest that the agonist-induced desensitization of PAF receptor in rabbit platelets is independent of activation of protein kinase C.

PAF receptor structure: a hypothesis

Different hypotheses of the structure of platelet-activating factor (PAF) receptor based on structure-activity relationships of agonists and antagonists are reviewed. For an agonistic effect, strong hydrophobic interactions and an ether function are required in position-1 of the glycerol backbone; chain length limitations and steric hindrance demand a small group in position-2. The unusual structural properties of non-PAF-like antagonists required 3-D electrostatic potential calculations. This method applied to seven potent antagonists suggests a strong "Cache-orielles" (ear-muff) effect, i.e., two strong electronegative wells (isocontour at -10 Kcal/mole) are located at 180 degrees to each other and at a relatively constant distance. Initial consideration of the "Cache-oreilles" effect implied the structure of a bipolarized cylinder of 10-12 A diameter for the receptor. However, very recent results on studies with agonists and antagonists structurally similar to PAF suggest that the receptor may in fact be a multi-polarized cylinder.

Synthesis and proaggregatory activity of 1-O-(2-methyloctadecyl)-2-O-acetyl-rac-glycero-3-phosphocholine

Racemic 1-O-(2-methyloctadecyl)-2-O-acetyl-glycero-3-phosphocholine, a branched chain PAF species, was prepared by chemical synthesis and investigated for biological activity on human blood platelets in vitro. The synthesis started from 2-O-benzylglycerol and 2-methyloctadecyl-1-methyl sulfonate and was accomplished in five reaction steps. A comparison with 'octadecyl-rich' PAF showed that the PAF species described here exerts a 22-fold weaker proaggregatory activity. Based on [3H]PAF-binding studies, an obstruction of PAF-binding or the signal transduction by the branched alkyl chain in C-1 position of the glycerol backbone is suggested.

PAF-receptor. III. Conformational and electronic properties of PAF-like agonists and antagonists

In order to compare electronic and conformational properties of PAF-agonists and PAF-antagonists, 14 analogues structurally related to PAF were studied. A common conformation of the glycerol backbone was present in all agonists and all constrained or flexible antagonists. The distinction between agonists and antagonists appears to be casted on position-2 where the folded conformation of the substituent for agonists should be the most probable. In position-3 the gauche conformation can be adopted by all the analysed compounds. The electrostatic potential well at -30 kcal/mol stretches to the carbonyl group in position-2 in the folded conformation of the agonists. On the contrary, in constrained antagonists, a second negative zone appears around the carbamate group. Given the modelling results, the triethylammonium PAF analogue considered in literature as a weak agonist, was resynthesized and proved to be more potent than previously reported. These experimental results confirm our hypothesis in terms of a common conformation of agonist and antagonist PAF-like molecules.

Biological effects of 1-acyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine in the human neutrophil

The synthesis of large quantities of 1-acyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (1-acyl-2-acetyl-GPC) relative to 1-alkyl-2-acetyl-GPC (PAF; platelet-activating factor) has been demonstrated in several inflammatory cells. The present study has examined agonist and antagonist activities of 1-acyl-2-acetyl-GPC in the human neutrophil. 1-Acyl-2-acetyl-GPC induced a rapid increase in cytosolic calcium in the neutrophil; this effect was detected at 2 x 10(-9) M and was maximal at 10(-6) M. The peak response induced by 1-acyl-2-acetyl-GPC was similar to that induced by PAF although the potency of 1-acyl-2-acetyl-GPC was 300-fold lower than that of PAF. The dose response curves for both 1-acyl-2-acetyl-GPC and PAF were shifted in a parallel fashion by L-652,731 (10(-6) M), a PAF receptor antagonist, suggesting that both 1-acyl-2-acetyl-GPC and PAF act on the same receptor. High concentrations of 1-acyl-2-acetyl-GPC (10(-5) M) induced the release of beta-glucuronidase and lysozyme from the human neutrophil. The percent release of lysozyme induced by 1-acyl-2-acetyl-GPC was consistently higher than that of beta-glucuronidase. Prior stimulation of neutrophils with 1-acyl-2-acetyl-GPC dose-dependently inhibited the increase in cytosolic calcium induced by a subsequent challenge with an optimal concentration of PAF. Similarly, preincubation of neutrophils with 1-acyl-2-acetyl-GPC dose-dependently inhibited beta-glucuronidase and lysozyme release induced by a subsequent stimulation with PAF. The inhibitory effect on degranulation could not be surmounted even by concentrations of PAF 10-fold higher than that of 1-acyl-2-acetyl-GPC. The inhibition appeared to be selective for PAF since 1-acyl-2-acetyl-GPC did not affect f-met peptide-induced degranulation. This study suggests that 1-acyl-2-acetyl-GPC may act as a naturally-occurring specific inhibitor of PAF-induced activation of the human neutrophil.

Combining site specificities of rabbit antibodies to platelet-activating factor (PAF)

Anti-PAF sera from six different rabbits, immunized with C12- or C6-PAF as immunogen, were examined in hapten inhibition experiments in an attempt to define the fine structural recognition specificities of the antibody combining sites. Using a selection of naturally occurring lipids and PAF analogues, no significant cross-reactivity was observed with the lipids or with the inactive metabolite, lyso-PAF. Comparison of the structural specificity requirements of the antibodies from each rabbit showed some heterogeneity, with one antiserum demonstrating a different recognition specificity at position 1 on the glycerol backbone of the PAF molecule. A second rabbit antiserum showed a large degree of tolerance for analogues with increasing acyl chain length at position 2. In general, an ether group at position 1 and an acetyl at position 2 were required for inhibitory activity and a degree of tolerance was demonstrated at position 3, where the main structural requirement was for one or more methyl groups on the nitrogen atom of the phosphocholine moiety.

Capillary gas chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry of paf-acether and analogs: absence of 1-O-alkyl-2-propionyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine in human polymorphonuclear neutrophils

Fast atom bombardment-tandem mass spectrometry was used to identify molecular species of paf-acether (paf) produced by human polymorphonuclear neutrophils. Using this biological material, normal phase high performance liquid chromatography was necessary prior to the fast atom bombardment-tandem mass spectrometry step. Gas liquid chromatography/electron capture detection after hydrolysis with phospholipase C and conversion to heptafluorobutyrate derivatives was used to confirm the results. The results indicated the presence of mainly 1-O-hexadecyl/octadecyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, acyl analogs of paf and only trace amounts of other alkyl analogs of paf. We did not detect the 2-propionyl analog of paf. Moreover, supplementation of human polymorphonuclear neutrophils with sodium propionate did not result in formation of the 2-propionyl analog of paf.

Characterization of 3H-labelled platelet activating factor receptor complex solubilized from rabbit platelet membranes

Rabbit platelet membranes, preincubated with 3H-labeled platelet activating factor ([3H]PAF), were solubilized with 2% digitonin. Sedimentation of the detergent extract in a sucrose density gradient revealed a major labeled component with a sedimentation coefficient (s20,omega) of 10.5 S, which was substantially diminished when an excess of unlabeled PAF or L-652,731, (trans-2,5-bis(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)tetrahydrofuran), (PAF antagonist) was present in the preincubation mixture, suggesting that the 10.5 S component is a specific receptor-bound [3H]PAF complex. Gel filtration of the [3H]PAF-receptor complex on Sephacryl S-300 revealed a single radiolabeled fraction with an apparent Stokes' radius of 4.9 nm. The apparent molecular weight and the frictional ratio of the agonist-receptor complex were computed to be 220,000 and 1.13, respectively. Dissociation of [3H]PAF from the radioligand-receptor complex was facilitated by Na+ and Li+, whereas K+ and Cs+ were ineffective. The guanine nucleotide, GTP, was also found to promote the dissociation in a manner that is additive with the effect of Na+, suggestive of the coupling of a guanine nucleotide binding protein to the solubilized PAF-receptor complex.

Human neutrophil platelet-activating factor: molecular heterogeneity in unstimulated and ionophore-stimulated cells

The molecular heterogeneity of platelet-activating factor (PAF) in resting and ionophore (A23187) -stimulated human neutrophils was measured by a very sensitive gas chromatography-negative ion chemical ionization mass spectrometric method. The molecular species compositions of PAF, which are due to variations in the 1-O-alkyl chain length, were significantly different between resting and ionophore-stimulated polymorphonuclear leukocytes. The major species of PAF produced by unstimulated polymorphonuclear leukocytes were 16:0, 17:0, 18:1 and 18:0, representing 55, 14, 8 and 10%, respectively, of the total PAF; 16:0 was the predominant PAF (74%) in A23187-stimulated polymorphonuclear leukocytes. The PAF molecular species from unstimulated polymorphonuclear leukocytes was similar to compositions from those of the precursor 1-O-alkyl-2-acyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, whereas those from the ionophore-stimulated polymorphonuclear leukocytes differed from the precursor 1-O-alkyl-2-acyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, thus indicating a very high degree of substrate selectivity for PAF synthesis. Although the physiological implications of the variations in PAF composition are not known, these studies indicate that the PAF produced by resting polymorphonuclear leukocytes are significantly different from those produced in response to ionophore.

Platelet aggregation induced by ether-linked phospholipids. 1. Inhibitory actions of bovine serum albumin and structural analogues of platelet activating factor

Ether-linked lysophosphatidic acid was able to induce aggregation of platelets from various animals. Feline platelets were the most sensitive followed in decreasing order by human, bovine and rabbit platelets. ONO-6240 and CV-3988, which are antagonists of platelet activating factor, did not inhibit aggregation of feline platelets induced by ether-linked lysophosphatidic acid, indicating that the aggregation induced by the lysophosphatidic acid did not involve receptors for platelet activating factor. An addition of bovine serum albumin caused dose-dependent inhibitions on the aggregation of platelets by both ether-linked lysophosphatidic acid and platelet activating factor. Moreover, 0.5% bovine serum albumin reversed platelet aggregation by the active phospholipid before this aggregation reached a maximum. These results suggest that the lysophosphatidic acid exerts its stimulatory action extracellularly, probably by interacting with specific sites on the surface of platelet.

Desensitization and antagonism of rat polymorphonuclear leukocytes stimulated with PAF acether

The activation of rat polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) with PAF-acether (platelet-activating factor) was blocked by two antagonists: 48740 RP and BN 52021. The release of beta glucuronidase was usually better inhibited than that of lysozyme suggesting that the tested antagonists interfere rather with PAF-acether exocytosis of azurophil granules. Inhibition was relatively specific, even though a moderate effect (below 34%) upon PMN activation by the two unrelated agonist n-formyl-Methionyl-Leucyl-Phenylalanine (fMLP) and leukotriene B4 sometimes reached significance. The partial persistence of inhibition to stimulation with PAF-acether after elimination of both inhibitors suggests that they do not act at the PAF-acether receptor only. Furthermore, the observation of cross desensitization between PAF-acether and fMLP may be related to common pathways and/or metabolites, including PAF-acether itself.

Effects of PAF-acether and structural analogues on platelet activation and bronchoconstriction in guinea-pigs

PAF-acether (platelet-activating factor) (1-O-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol-3-phosphorylcholine) induces platelet-dependent bronchoconstriction in the guinea-pig which correlates with its in vivo thrombocytopenic effect. We investigated the influence of modifications of the polar head group in position 3 of the glycerol skeleton of PAF-acether on guinea-pig platelet activation and bronchoconstriction. PAF-acether itself induced concentration-dependent platelet activation (EC50 for aggregation = 0.41 nM and EC20 for secretion of ATP = 0.56 nM). The 3-phosphoryl-N-methyl-morpholino ethanol analogue was slightly more active than PAF-acether and the 3-phosphoryl-N-methyl-piperidinium ethanol, 3-phopshoryl-(N-methyl-piperidino-3') methanol and 3-phosphoryl-(N-methyl-hydroxy-4') piperidine analogues were equieffective to PAF-acether in activating platelets. The 3-phosphoryl-piperidino ethanol analogue was 8 times less active than PAF-acether; the 3-phosphoryl-morpholino ethanol analogue and the 1-O-octadecyl-2-O-acetyl-3-O-[trimethyl-ammonio)-propyl) glycerol were inactive up to 1 microM. Our data show that the choline head group is not a compulsory requirement for activity. When injected i.v. to the propranolol-treated guinea-pigs, the platelet-activating analogues also induced bronchoconstriction. Two PAF-acether antagonists, compounds 48740 RP and BN 52021, inhibited PAF-acether-induced platelet activation when added to PRP at the final concentration of 0.1 mM (aggregation inhibited by 91 +/- 4 and by 94 +/- 3% respect.; secretion inhibited by 80 +/- 12 and 79 +/- 10% respectively, mean +/- S.E.M., n = 4). Both antagonists also suppressed platelet activation and in vivo bronchoconstriction, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia and hypotension induced by PAF-acether and the various analogues. Our results indicate that PAF-acether and the analogues studied trigger platelet activation and the consequent bronchoconstriction through mechanisms which share sensitivity to same antagonists.

PAF-acether-induced synthesis of prostacyclin by human endothelial cells

Platelet activating factor, 1-O-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (PAF-acether) is a potent platelet-stimulating agent formed by most circulating cells. Added to cultured human endothelial cells, PAF-acether induced a dose-dependent synthesis of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha, the major stable metabolite of prostacyclin (PGI2), with a maximal effect at 100 nM, a concentration equivalent to that which aggregates human platelets. No release of von Willebrand factor (vWF) was noted under the same conditions. The poorly active PAF-acether analogue, methoxy-PAF failed to stimulate 6-keto-PFG1 alpha synthesis and the PAF-acether antagonists 48740 RP, BN 52021 and Ro 19-3704, prevented the stimulatory effect of PAF-acether. Methyl-carbamate-PAF, an equieffective analogue of PAF-acether on platelets, also stimulated 6-keto-PGF1 alpha production. After a first stimulation by PAF-acether or methyl-carbamate-PAF, no response was detected when endothelial cells were re-exposed to either agonist, indicating auto- and cross-desensitization as described for other cells. Since PAF-acether stimulated [3H]arachidonate release from pre-labelled endothelial cells, our results suggest that it stimulates phospholipase activity, which accounts for the increased PGI2 synthesis. The auto- and cross-desensitization between PAF-acether and methyl-carbamate-PAF, ineffectiveness of methoxy-PAF and inhibition by selective antagonists strongly suggest interaction with specific membrane receptors.

A role for PAF-acether (platelet-activating factor) in platelet-dependent vascular diseases?

Platelets-isolated or in conjunction with leukocytes-interact with vessel walls in many experimental and human diseases. Several mediators are held responsible for platelet activation and interaction with leukocytes, among which PAF-acether (platelet-activating factor) is a prime candidate. This phospholipid mediator is released by most inflammatory cells, including neutrophils, by isolated organs such as kidney and heart, is a potent platelet and neutrophil agonist, and exerts major vasoactive properties. Its biosynthesis involves a two-step enzymatic process yielding the active molecule from the membrane alkyl-ether choline-containing phospholipids. The first step implicates a phospholipase A2 that hydrolyzes a long-chain fatty acid (which can be arachidonic acid) from membrane phospholipids, leaving the intermediate compound lyso PAF-acether, a PAF-acether precursor that is acetylated by an acetyltransferase in a second step. It can also result from deacetylation of PAF-acether by an acetylhydrolase. PAF-acether release might explain the intervention of platelets in diseases such as glomerulonephritis and allergic vasculitis, in which the involvement of neutrophils and platelets is frequently noted. The end result of these complex sets of cell-to-cell interactions is the release of most known inflammatory mediators, influencing vascular permeability, cell infiltration, and smooth muscle contraction. Nevertheless, direct evidence for the implication of these rather well-defined cellular and molecular interactions in human pathologic states remains to be obtained.

Inflammation and mediators of lung injury

This article covers the major pathways involved in acute inflammation in mammals with a particular emphasis on their relevance to the bovine species. It focuses on the potential and proven contributions of these systems to pulmonary defense mechanisms and lung pathology. The article also points out what is known and where gaps in our information exist as well as promising areas for research in the coming years.

Synthesis and characterization of a radioiodinated, photoreactive and physiologically active analogue of platelet activating factor

The multistep synthesis of a photoreactive, radioactive and aggregating analogue of platelet-activating factor (PAF)-acether is described. The photoreactive and radioactive moiety was added at the last step; the specific radioactivity was higher than 1000 Ci/mmol. The concentration of this new analogue which causes 50% of aggregation of platelets were of the same order of magnitude as for synthetic snPAF-acether, so as for two other analogues having a bulky group at the omega end of the fatty ether chain. The photoreactivity was proved by the covalent binding of the analogue to protein (BSA) after 10-min irradiation times at 300 nm. The binding was largely prevented by prior (not by later) addition of a high concentration of lyso phosphatidyl choline.

Effects of nonsteroid antiinflammatory drugs on the specific binding of platelet activating factor to membrane preparations of rabbit platelets

The inhibitory effects of several antiinflammatory agents on the specific binding of tritiated 1-O-alkyl-2-O-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphorylcholine, (platelet activating factor, PAF), with its receptor on isolated rabbit platelet plasma membranes were investigated. Several potent cyclooxygenase inhibitors do not inhibit 3H-PAF binding to its receptor sites. Yet, three others, indomethacin, phenylbutazone and sulfinpyrazone, as well as three non-cyclooxygenase inhibitors, the 3',4'-dimethoxy analog of indomethacin, the prodrug sulindac and its sulfone metabolite, are moderately active at relatively high concentrations (50 - 100 microM). Parallel inhibitions of 3H-PAF binding and PAF-induced platelet aggregation by derivatives of these antiinflammatory agents suggest that these inhibitors are probably interacting with the functional binding sites of PAF. The results clearly indicate that the configuration of PAF binding site is very different from the inhibitory site of cyclooxygenase. A preference for oxygenated substituents in these hydrophobic molecules to inhibit the PAF-receptor binding is noted. Some binding characteristics of the receptor are briefly discussed.

Observations on the critical micellar concentration of 1-O-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine and a series of its homologs and analogs

In a study designed to explore the physical chemical characteristics of platelet activating factor (PAF), or 1-O-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, the critical micellar concentration of this compound, as well as the propionyl, butyryl and hexanoyl homologs was determined. In addition, an analogous series of compounds, in which the 1-O-alkyl was replaced by a 1-O-hexadecanoyl or a 1-O-octadecanoyl group, were examined for their critical micellar concentration. A variety of analytical techniques including NMR, gas liquid chromatography, infra-red spectrometry, thin layer chromatography, phosphorus, choline, glyceryl ether and fatty acid analyses were used to confirm the high purity of the individual derivatives. A dye binding assay and a surface tension technique were compared as to their suitability for determination of the critical micellar concentration of these compounds. Whereas the dye binding method proved highly variable, the surface tension procedure proved to be a facile, reproducible technique and was the assay of choice. The critical micellar concentration of the 1-O-alkyl and the 1-O-acyl derivatives showed comparable values for each short chain substituent at carbon 2, with values, in microM, ranging from 1.3 +/- 0.03 for 1-O-hexadecanoyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine and 1.1 +/- 0.10 for 1-O-hexadecyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine to 0.22 +/- 0.01 for 1-O-hexadecanoyl-2-hexanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine and 0.18 +/- 0.03 for 1-O-hexadecyl-2-hexanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine. The data show that at the molar concentration usually employed in biological studies with these compounds, i.e., 1 X 10(-7) to 10(-11) M, one can assume that they will be present as monomolecular species. Thus, it seems unlikely that the widely diverse biological activities of these compounds can be explained by this physical parameter.