Evidence for distinct systemic extravasation effects of platelet activating factor, leukotrienes B4, C4, D4 and histamine in the guinea pig

Mediators released during human anaphylaxis

A range of mediators are generated during anaphylaxis, with redundancy of effects, multiple overlapping pathways, and involvement of several cell types. Key steps in the reaction occur at the site of initial contact, and mediators may not be detectable systemically. Furthermore, the potencies of various mediators vary enormously, and clinical effects may occur below our level of detection. We also do not know what converts (amplifies) a local reaction into systemic anaphylaxis. Murine models have identified several novel mediators that may propagate and/or regulate this process and also indicate that circulating neutrophils may play an important role in reaction amplification. Differential expression of various genes within specific intracellular signalling pathways of mediator release may further explain the varying severities of anaphylactic reactions. As our knowledge of the mechanisms of activation, key mediators, and the regulation of mediator release improves, new treatments for prevention and acute management may emerge.

Platelet-activating factor in cardiovascular stress situations

Since the elucidation of its chemical structure two decades ago, platelet-activating factor (PAF) has emerged as an important mediator of various cardiovascular stress situations. Most notably, PAF was implicated as a key factor in the septic shock syndrome, based on the similarities between endotoxin and PAF biological effects, the elevation of circulating and tissue levels of PAF during endotoxemia, and the protective effect of PAF antagonists in the septic state. In addition, accumulating data suggest the involvement of PAF in the pathophysiological processes associated with ischemia, hemorrhage and trauma, where PAF exerts its effects directly on cells and blood elements or indirectly through interactions with other mediators such as cytokines and prostaglandins. Nevertheless, the relative contribution of PAF to the pathophysiological processes in endotoxemia is still unknown and should await further investigations. The primary aims of this chapter are: to delineate the effects of PAF on the cardiovascular system, to summarize the data which suggest the involvement of PAF in stress situations of the cardiovascular system, and to identify areas where future experimental efforts should be focused.

Role of eicosanoids in PAF-induced increases of the vascular permeability in rat airways

1. Platelet activating factor (PAF; 1.0 and 5.0 micrograms kg-1) injected in the tail vein of unanaesthetized rats dose-dependently increased the vascular permeability of the trachea, upper and lower bronchi (up to 400%) as measured by the extravasation of Evans blue dye. The permeability of the parenchyma was not affected by PAF treatment. 2. Pretreatment of the animals with an intravenous injection of the PAF antagonist BN-52021 (10 mg kg-1) abolished almost totally the vascular permeability changes elicited by PAF injection (5.0 micrograms kg-1). 3. Pretreatment of the animals with intravenous injections of inhibitors of thromboxane formation, indomethacin (10 mg kg-1) and compound OKY-046 (10 mg kg-1), and thromboxane antagonist, compound L-655,240 (5 mg kg-1), partially reduced PAF effects in the airways (from 28 to 69%). The thromboxane mimic U-44069 (5.0 micrograms kg-1) did not modify the vascular permeability of rat airways. The effect of a low dose of PAF (0.1 microgram kg-1) on the vascular permeability of the trachea and bronchi (but not of the parenchyma) was potentiated by compound U-44069 (5.0 micrograms kg-1) or noradrenaline (400 ng kg-1) whereas the effect of a high dose of PAF (5.0 micrograms kg-1) was not affected. 4. Neither the peptidoleukotriene antagonist MK-571 (10 mg kg-1) nor the 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor, L-663,536 (10 mg kg-1) given before the injection of PAF (5.0 micrograms kg-1) affected the protein extravasation in rat lung tissues. 5. These data suggest that the effect of PAF on rat vascular permeability is partly modulated by thromboxane formation although thromboxanes have no direct effect on the permeability. Thromboxane may act via a vasoconstriction that increases hydrostatic pressure and potentiates the extravasation elicited by PAF effect on endothelial cells. 6. Leukotrienes do not appear to be involved in the changes of rat airway permeability induced by PAF.

Effects of PAF and PAF antagonists on the shape of venous endothelial cells in vitro

Three platelet-activating factor (PAF) antagonists were tested for their ability to prevent or reduce PAF-induced shape changes of large vein endothelial cells in vitro. BN52021 had a significant protective action at concentrations of 1 microM and 0.1 microM, but at 100 microM had a damaging effect of its own. CV3988 (0.1 microM and 1 microM) and L652,731 (20 microM) did not reduce the responses to PAF, and at higher concentrations (CV3988 10 microM and 100 microM, L652,731 100 microM) both compounds alone caused significant changes of shape. BN52021 (0.1 microM) was also effective against leukotriene (LT) C4, at 1 microM against bradykinin and LTE4, and at 10 microM against LTD4 and the calcium ionophore A23187. BN52021 (10 microM) was ineffective against shape changes induced by histamine, prostaglandin (PG) E2 and lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC). Neither indomethacin (100 microM) nor verapamil (20 microM) altered the response to PAF. Using electron spin resonance (ESR) spectrometry it was shown that the damaging effects of LPC and CV3988 may be due partly to their detergent properties. It is suggested that the mechanism by which PAF alters the shape of large vein endothelial cells is primarily receptor mediated.

Antitumor activity of SRI 62-834, a cyclic ether analog of ET-18-OCH3

SRI 62-834, an analog of the antitumor agent ET-18-OCH3 in which the oxygen atom at carbon atom 2 has been incorporated into a five-membered heterocycle, has been prepared and evaluated as an antitumor agent. The compound exhibited good cytotoxicity in vitro against a variety of tumor cell lines and was as effective as ET-18-OCH3 given orally in the mouse Meth A sarcoma model. SRI 62-834 was shown to be an inhibitor of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), possibly at the receptor level, and platelet-activating factor (PAF) at the receptor level.

Inhibition by SRI 63-072 and SRI 63-119 of PAF-acether and immune complex effects in the guinea pig

We have examined two PAF-acether receptor antagonists, SRI 63-072 and SRI 63-119, for their ability to inhibit PAF-acether and immune complex effects in the guinea pig. Both compounds exhibited dose-dependent inhibition of bronchoconstriction and hemoconcentration induced by 0.1 micrograms kg-1 PAF-acether, where the ED50 values of SRI 63-072 were 0.3/0.4 mg kg-1 i.a. and 0.14/0.17 mg kg-1 i.a. for SRI 63-119 for each response, respectively. The d and 1 chiral forms of both antagonists were equipotent towards inhibition of hemoconcentration and bronchoconstriction, suggesting a lack of enantiomeric selectively. SRI 63-072 was further evaluated for its ability to inhibit dermal extravasation in the reverse passive Arthus reaction. Guinea pigs given 125I-BSA i.v as antigen and anti-BSA antibodies by intradermal injection exhibited plasma leakage that was dose- and time-dependent relative to the antibody amount. SRI 63-072 exhibited 46% maximal inhibition of dermal plasma leakage when injected in the skin (100 micrograms site-1 i.d.) with the antibody but less than 10% inhibition when administered intra-arterially (3.0 mg kg-1 i.a.) with the antigen. Therefore, these antagonists effectively inhibit systemic effects of PAF-acether and are partially effective towards inhibition of the dermal extravasation induced by immune complexes. Furthermore, unlike the enantiomeric differences between R and S PAF-acether, the chiral molecules of 63-119 and 63-072 effectively antagonized hemoconcentration and bronchoconstriction induced by PAF-acether.

Microvascular leakage to platelet activating factor in guinea-pig trachea and bronchi

Conscious guinea-pigs received platelet activating factor (PAF, 0.03-0.25 microgram/kg, i.v.) and colloidal carbon (C, tracer for microvascular leakage). Fifteen min later the animal was killed and C-labelled microvessels (leakage) were detected in the mucosal/submucosal region of tracheal and bronchial sections. PAF was more potent than LTD4 or histamine. The numbers of leaky vessel were dose-related, arterioles and arteries were not affected, leaky vessels were seen from proximal trachea to intrapulmonary bronchi and carbon was not apparent in the alveolar wall. The effect was quick in onset, of short duration, could be repeated, was not produced by lyso-PAF and was unaffected by thrombocytopaenia (produced by an antiserum). Thrombocytopaenia itself did not cause leaky vessels in the airways nor affect histamine responses. Thus, PAF causes an increase in microvascular leakage in the conducting airways, which is not dependent on platelets. The affected vessels are probably postcapillary bronchial venules and PAF may act via an endothelial cell receptor in these microvessels. This leakage effect of PAF in the airways could contribute to features of bronchial asthma.

Biological properties of the antagonist SRI 63-441 in the PAF and endotoxin models of hypotension in the rat and dog

Intravenous administration of platelet-activating factor (PAF) produces dose-dependent hypotension in several species. We have evaluated a recently developed PAF antagonist, SRI 63-441, for its ability to inhibit the hypotensive effect of PAF in the rat and dog. In the rat, 100 ng/kg PAF produced a 38.6 +/- 5.1% decrease in carotid mean arterial pressure (MAP), followed by a 3.2 +/- 0.7 min recovery period for MAP to return to baseline values. SRI 63-441 reduced the hypotension response in the rat, where the ED50 values for inhibition of MAP were 0.16 mg/kg i.v. and 0.19 mg/kg i.v. for the recovery period. Dogs challenged with 1.5 micrograms/kg PAF i.v. demonstrated a 52 +/- 8% decrease in MAP that persisted for at least 15 min. The ED50 for inhibition of MAP by SRI 63-441 was 0.20 mg/kg i.v. Following injection of tritium-labeled SRI 63-441, 56.8 +/- 2.4% of the dose was recovered in the urine and 43.2 +/- 8.9% in the feces in the rats while in dogs 38.7 +/- 5.6% and 60.9 +/- 23.5% of the dose was excreted in the urine and feces, respectively. In the rat model of endotoxin-induced hypotension, SRI 63-441 given 1 min after a 5 mg/kg endotoxin challenge (which produced a 52 +/- 7% decrease in MAP), reversed the systemic effects, with an ED50 of 0.18 mg/kg i.v. The ED50 for reversal 6 min after endotoxin injection was 0.01 mg/kg. These results of inhibition and reversal by SRI 63-441 strongly implicate PAF as a pivotal mediator of hypotension and shock.