Metabolism of platelet activating factor at the whole organ and cellular level

Platelet activating factor (PAF, 1-O-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-3-glycerophosphocholine) has been characterized as a phospholipid possessing a myriad of effects from the cellular to whole organism levels. Analytical methods and procedures were developed in order to measure and identify PAF precursors and metabolites. Two quantitative physicochemical methods based on isotope dilution mass spectrometry (MS) were developed to measure lyso-PAF and applied to the calcium ionophore stimulated human neutrophil. Levels of lyso-PAF were found to be significantly increased, 2-3 fold, upon cell activation with a stimulus that concomitantly elicits the production of PAF. Investigation into the metabolism of PAF by the isolated perfused rat lung by intratracheal instillation revealed [3H]-PAF to be extensively metabolized over a 15 minute time course. Greater than 96% of the administered dose was retained by the lung and was distributed as: lyso-PAF (3.3%), phosphatidylcholine (GPC, 82.3%), phosphatidylethanolamine (2.5%), and neutral lipid (2.5%), the remainder was intact PAF