Enhanced production of platelet activating factor by peripheral granulocytes from children with asthma

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Abstract
Schauer U, Koch B, Michl U, Jäger R, Rieger CHL. Enhanced production of platelet activating factor by peripheral granulocytes from children with asthma. Granulocytes from 23 asthmatic children aged 4–15 years and 32 age-matched healthy children were studied. Cells were purified by Dextran sedimentation and Percoll gradient centrifugation from heparinized blood. After in vitro stimulation by ionophore A23187 the amount of newly synthesized PAF and LTC4 was assessed by radio receptor assay or radioimmunoassay respectively. Eight patients had symptoms of asthma within the last 3 weeks before examination. Granulocytes from the symptomatic patients showed a significantly higher PAF generation (median 125 ng/106 cells, range 7–189 ng/106 cells) when compared to asymptomatic patients (p < 0.001. median 14 ng/106cells, range 6–33 ng/106 cells) or controls (p < 0.001, median 11 ng/106 cells, range 3–26 ng/106 cells). In contrast, LTC4 generation was increased in both patient groups. The results suggest a regulatory role of PAF in the exacerbation of asthma.

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