Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0406810 (NAME)
 13,345 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) causes altered vascular tone in the mesenteric, pulmonary, and skeletal muscle vascular beds, enhanced macromolecular leak in postcapillary venules, and bronchoconstriction. In spontaneously breathing, anesthetized male Sprague-Dawley rats, we examined responses of individual tracheal microvessels using intravital video microscopy with epi-illumination using a polarizing filter and a long working distance lens (10x). Topical application of PAF (0.1 ml; 10(-9), 10(-7), or 10(-5) M) caused venules (diameter, 51 +/- 5 microm, mean +/- SEM) to constrict in a concentration-dependent fashion. Venoconstriction began within 0-3 min and was maximal within 10 min. In contrast, PAF (10(-5) M) applied to arterioles (diameters, 37 +/- 1 microm) ultimately caused constriction by 21 +/- 7%, but in three dilation (38 +/- 9%) occurred first. PAF (10(-7) and 10(-9) M) applied to arterioles (diameter 36 +/- 3 and 38 +/- 3 microm, respectively) caused no significant change in diameter. Infusion of BN52021, a PAF receptor antagonist, completely blocked constriction of venules and arterioles to PAF (10(-5) M), but dilation (17 +/- 0.2%) still occurred in three of five arterioles. Infusion of Nomega-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME; 1 mg/kg/min), a nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor, potentiated venoconstriction by 34 +/- 18% in response to PAF (10(-7) M) and blocked arteriolar dilation to PAF (10(-5) M). Arteriolar constriction was unaffected by inhibiting NO release. Topical application of L-NAME (10(-3) M) constricted venules (n = 6) by 13 +/- 2% and arterioles (n = 5) by 26 +/- 4%. Venules constricted 33 +/- 15% less to PAF (10(-7) M, n = 5) following topical L-NAME (33 +/- 15%) than with infused l-NAME. Arterioles (n = 5) constricted 27 +/- 4% to PAF (10(-5) M) after topical l-NAME, no different from the group receiving infused L-NAME. We conclude that (1) PAF has a greater vasoconstrictive effect on tracheal venules than arterioles; (2) arterioles have a biphasic response to PAF at some concentrations; (3) PAF-induced vasoconstriction, but not dilation, is receptor mediated; (4) nitric oxide attenuates tracheal venoconstriction and may cause arteriolar dilation in response to PAF; and (5) endogenous release of NO appears to modulate the basal tone of tracheal arterioles more than venules.
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PMID:Effects of platelet-activating factor on arteriolar and venular tone in rat trachea. 905 76

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the involvement of nitric oxide (NO) in the modulatory role of platelet-activating factor (PAF, 1-O-hexadecyl-2-acetyl-sn-glyceryl-3-phosphorylcholine), a vasoactive phospholipid mediator synthesized by endothelial cells, on the vascular tone and arterial blood pressure. In pentobarbitone-anaesthetized rabbits, unloading of the carotid sinus baroreceptors by a bilateral carotid artery occlusion elicited a reflex rise in systemic vascular resistance, which was markedly potentiated by pretreating the animals with the PAF receptor antagonist WEB 2086 ([3-4-(2-chlorphenyl-)-9-methyl-6H-thieno-3,2-f-1,2,4-triazolo-4,3 -alpha-1,4 -diazepin-2-yl-(4-morpholinyl)-1-propanone]; 5 mg/kg, i.v.). In contrast, the inhibition of the biosynthesis of NO via NO synthase using N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) neither affected the systemic vasoconstriction induced by carotid artery occlusion nor modified the potentiating effect of WEB 2086. The haemodynamic alterations induced by L-NAME administration were corrected by continuous infusions of the directly-acting vasodilators sodium nitroprusside or diazoxide. The results of the present study confirm previous studies from our group suggesting the involvement of PAF in a negative feedback mechanism effective in the local regulation of vasomotor tone in anaesthetized rabbits, but exclude the participation of NO in this process.
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PMID:The acute increases in vasomotor tone and blood pressure induced by carotid artery occlusion are modulated by platelet-activating factor (PAF) independently of nitric oxide release. 952 24

The effect of a thrombin receptor agonist peptide (TRAP-6) on the release of nitric oxide (NO) and platelet activating factor (PAF) from resting and calcium-ionophore (A23187)-activated rat peritoneal mast cells (RPMC) was studied using a platelet aggregation bioassay. RPMC spontaneously released NO, which inhibited TRAP-6-, ADP-, and PAF-stimulated platelet aggregation. This effect of NO was abolished by the addition of an NO binding agent, oxyhemoglobin (oxyHb), to the platelet suspension. The RPMC-induced suppression of platelet aggregation was completely inhibited by the NO-synthase inhibitor L-NAME. TRAP-6 and its high affinity analog haTRAP stimulated the rapid release of NO from RPMC. The effect of TRAP-6 was inhibited by pretreatment of the RPMC with L-NAME or with the inhibitor of the constitutive NO-synthase isoform (cNOS) calmidazolium. TRAP-6 inhibited PAF release from A23187-activated RPMC via an NO-dependent mechanism. Platelet aggregation induced by PAF release from activated RPMC was also confirmed in experiments using the PAF receptor antagonist ginkgolide B. Thus, TRAP-6 is a rapidly acting modulator of mast cell reactivity; it stimulates NO release and inhibits PAF secretion.
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PMID:Modulation of mast cell activity by a peptide agonist of the thrombin receptor: role of nitric oxide. 1039 81

Recent evidence suggests that hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV) is mediated by hypoxia-induced closure of voltage-gated potassium channels in pulmonary vascular smooth muscle cells. It is also claimed that various vasoconstrictor mediators such as thromboxane A2 (TXA2), platelet activating factor (PAF), cysteinyl leukotrienes (cys-LTs) or endothelin-1 (ET-1) contribute to HPV. Their role, however, has not been unequivocally accepted. On the contrary, it is well known that endothelium-derived nitric oxide negatively modulates HPV. Since NO counteracts action of vasoconstrictor mediators, we tested the hypothesis that modulatory role of TXA2 PAF, cys-LTs and ET-1 in HPV would become apparent in absence of endogenous NO. For that purpose we assessed contribution of these mediators to HPV in the isolated blood-perfused rat lung pretreated with a non-selective NOS inhibitor, L-NAME. HPV, which was greatly augmented by L-NAME (300 microM) alone, was inhibited neither by a TXA2 synthase inhibitor (Camonagrel, 300 pM), nor by a PAF receptor antagonist (WEB 2170, 100 microM), nor by an inhibitor of five-lipooxygenase-activating protein (MK 886, 10 microM), nor by a non-selective ET-1 receptor antagonist (LU 302872, 30 pM). In summary, in isolated blood-perfused rat lung, TXA2, PAF, cys-LTs and ET-1 seem not to be involved in HPV, whereas we confirm the dominant role of endogenous NO in blunting HPV.
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PMID:Hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction in isolated blood-perfused rat lung; modulation by thromboxane A2, platelet-activating factor, cysteinyl leukotrienes and endothelin-1. 1259 30

Platelet-activating factor (PAF), a bioactive phospholipid implicated in neuronal excitotoxic death, augments the presynaptic release of glutamate. Excessive activation of postsynaptic glutamate receptors and subsequent downstream signals leads to excitotoxicity. The present study proposed that the NMDA receptor/nitric oxide (NO) signal pathway might be involved in PAF-induced neurotoxicity. After the cultured neurons were exposed to PAF for 24 h the percentage of neuronal death increased in a dose-dependent manner. The PAF effects were significantly prevented not only by BN52021, a PAF antagonist, but also by MK-801, an NMDA antagonist, and L-NAME, an NO synthase (NOS) inhibitor. Moreover, the increases in NOS activity and neuronal NOS expression induced by chronic exposure of the cultured neurons to PAF were dramatically blocked by BN52021 and MK-801, respectively. Our findings suggest that the NMDA receptor/NO signaling pathway might contribute to the pathological mechanism of cell death triggered via PAF receptor activation.
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PMID:Involvement of the NMDA receptor/nitric oxide signal pathway in platelet-activating factor-induced neurotoxicity. 1507 49

We previously reported that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) increases vascular permeability through the synthesis of endothelial platelet-activating factor (PAF), while others reported the contribution of nitric oxide (NO). Herein, we addressed the contribution of VEGF receptors and the role played by PAF and NO in VEGF-induced plasma protein extravasation. Using a modified Miles assay, intradermal injection in mice ears of VEGF-A(165), VEGF-A(121), and VEGF-C (1 microM) which activate VEGFR-2 (Flk-1) receptor increased vascular permeability, whereas a treatment with VEGFR-1 (Flt-1) analogs; PlGF and VEGF-B (1 microM) had no such effect. Pretreatment of mice with PAF receptor antagonist (LAU8080) or endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) inhibitor (L-NAME) abrogated protein extravasation mediated by VEGF-A(165). As opposed to PAF (0.01-1 microM), treatment with acetylcholine (ACh; up to 100 microM; inducer of NO synthesis) or sodium nitroprusside (SNP; up to 1 microM; NO donor) did not induce protein leakage. Simultaneous pretreatment of mice with eNOS and protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitors restored VEGF-A(165) vascular hyperpermeability suggesting that endogenous NO synthesis leads to PKA inhibition, which support maintenance of vascular integrity. Our data demonstrate that VEGF analogs increase vascular permeability through VEGFR-2 activation, and that both endogenous PAF and NO synthesis contribute to VEGF-A(165)-mediated vascular permeability. However, PAF but not NO directly increases vascular permeability per se, thereby, suggesting that PAF is a direct inflammatory mediator, whereas NO serves as a cofactor in VEGF-A(165) proinflammatory activities.
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PMID:Vascular permeability induced by VEGF family members in vivo: role of endogenous PAF and NO synthesis. 1711 9

We investigated the vascular effects of a crude aqueous extract (AEEG) of Echinodorus grandiflorus (Alismataceae) using the in vitro experimental models of the rabbit isolated aorta and perfused kidney. Echinodorus grandiflorus, a native semi-aquatic plant widely distributed in Brazil, has been extensively used in Brazilian folk medicine for the treatment of high blood pressure and inflammatory diseases. The bolus injection of AEEG (0.1-10 mg) into the rabbit renal circulation pre-contracted with norepinephrine induced marked and dose-dependent vasodilator responses (maximum of 37+/-4%; n=6; P<0.001), which was similar to that induced by injection of 10 mmol acetylcholine (41+/-3%). Moreover, AEEG elicited a significant and concentration-dependent relaxation in the endothelium-intact, but not endothelium-denuded aortic rings, reaching the maximum of 81+/-5% (n=7, P<0.001). Inhibition of the nitric oxide-cGMP pathway with L-NAME (100 microM) or Methylene Blue (20 microM) reduced maximum relaxation induced by AEEG from 81+/-5% to 46+/-3 and 45+/-3%, respectively (n=7, P<0.001). A similar reduction was obtained with the incubation of the aortic rings with the selective PAF receptor antagonist WEB 2086 (10 microM) (from 81+/-5% to 55+/-3%; n=7; P<0.01). Conversely, blockade of muscarinic receptors with atropine (10 microM) did not affect the vasodilator effects of AEEG, while inhibition of the enzyme cyclooxigenase not only did not block, but rather potentiated vasodilation induced by AEEG (n=7, P<0.001). Finally, blockade of Ca(2+)- and ATP-activated K(+) channels using the specific blockers charydbotoxin (100 nM) and glibenclamide (3 microM), respectively, did not modify aortic relaxation induced by AEEG. We conclude that water-soluble extracts from leaves of Echinodorus grandiflorus elicit an endothelium-dependent, nitric oxide and PAF receptor-mediated vasodilation in rabbit aortic rings, which does not appear to involve the generation of vasodilating prostaglandins or the activation of K(+) channels. This potent vasodilator effect of the extracts was confirmed in the isolated rabbit renal circulation.
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PMID:Pharmacological mechanisms involved in the vasodilator effects of extracts from Echinodorus grandiflorus. 1715 Mar 21

DMTI-II is a Kunitz-type inhibitor isolated from Dimorphandra mollis seeds that causes rat inflammatory edema by mechanisms involving activation of mast cells and sensory C-fibers. The present study aimed to further explore the inflammatory mechanisms involved in DMTI-II-induced inflammation, focusing to the leukocyte migration in vivo. Male Wistar rats (250-280 g) were injected with DMTI-II (1-100microg/cavity), and at 4-24h thereafter the leukocyte counts in peritoneal lavage were evaluated. DMTI-II caused dose- and time-dependent accumulation of neutrophils and eosinophils. The peritoneal neutrophil influx initiated at 4h, achieving maximal responses at 16 h after DMTI-II injection (16- and 22-fold increase, respectively). The DMTI-II-induced eosinophil recruitment was observed as early as 4h achieving the maximal responses at 16 h (12- and 17-fold increase, respectively). The mononuclear cell number increased at 4h and 16 h (1.5-fold and 1.6-increase, respectively). Prior treatments with dexamethasone, the cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitors indomethacin and celecoxib, as well as the PAF receptor antagonist PCA4248 largely reduced the neutrophil and eosinophil accumulation. The selective lypoxygenase inhibitor AA861, the tachykinin NK(1) antagonist SR-140333 and the nitric oxide inhibitor L-NAME reduced only the eosinophil number. The eotaxin levels were significantly higher in DMTI-II-injected rats compared with control animals. In conclusion, DMTI-II causes an early migration of eosinophils and neutrophils by mechanisms involving COX-2- and lipoxygenase-derived metabolites, PAF, substance P and NO. The capacity of DMTI-II to recruit eosinophils at early times is likely to reflect the allergen properties of proteinase inhibitors belonging to Kunitz family.
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PMID:Mechanisms involved in the rat peritoneal leukocyte migration induced by a Kunitz-type inhibitor isolated from Dimorphandra mollis seeds. 1910 16

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is a potent phospholipid mediator that exerts various pathophysiological effects by interacting with a G protein-coupled receptor. PAF has been reported to increase the permeability of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) via incompletely characterized mechanisms. We investigated the effect of PAF on rat brain microvascular endothelial cells (RBMVEC), a critical component of the BBB. PAF produced a dose-dependent increase in cytosolic Ca2+ concentration; the effect was prevented by the PAF receptor antagonist, WEB2086. The effect of PAF on cytosolic Ca2+ was abolished in Ca2+-free saline or in the presence of L-type voltage-gated Ca2+ channel inhibitor, nifedipine, indicating that Ca2+ influx is critical for PAF-induced increase in cytosolic Ca2+. PAF produced RBMVEC depolarization; the effect was inhibited by WEB2086. In cells loaded with [(4-amino-5-methylamino-2',7'-difluoro-fluorescein)diacetate] (DAF-FM), a nitric oxide (NO)-sensitive fluorescent dye, PAF increased the NO level; the effect was prevented by WEB2086, nifedipine or by l-NAME, an inhibitor of NO synthase. Immunocytochemistry studies indicate that PAF reduced the immunostaining of ZO-1, a tight junction-associated protein, increased F-actin fibers, and produced intercellular gaps. PAF produced a decrease in RBMVEC monolayer electrical resistance assessed with Electric Cell-Substrate Impedance Sensing (ECIS), indicative of a disruption of endothelial barrier function. In vivo studies indicate that PAF increased the BBB permeability, assessed with sodium fluorescein and Evans Blue methods, via PAF receptor-dependent mechanisms, consequent to Ca2+ influx and increased NO levels. Our studies reveal that PAF alters the BBB permeability by multiple mechanisms, which may be relevant for central nervous system (CNS) inflammatory disorders.
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PMID:Effects of Platelet-Activating Factor on Brain Microvascular Endothelial Cells. 2952 56