Abstract
PAF (platelet-activating factor, 1-O-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine) is a potent phospholipid mediator of acute allergic and inflammatory reactions. PAF is synthesized from a variety of stimulated inflammatory cells and has a wide spectrum of biological activities. Recent studies have revealed that PAF is also generated from normal tissues (organs) and involved in a variety of normal physiological phenomena.
It is plausible that 1-O-alkyl-2-arachidonoyl-GPC is a source of both PAF and bioactive arachidonate metabolites in various cells. The arachidonate products may lead to increased synthesis of PAF and they act synergistically with PAF. Recently, it was reported that the dietary enrichment with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids suppress PAF and arachidonate generation.
Although the precise role of PAF in vivo has not yet been fully understood, it is becoming increasingly evident that PAF is important in physiological and pathological reaction. In this review, we describe the outline of PAF research based on biochemical and lipid chemical aspects.
