Synthesis of platelet activating factor(PAF) and expression of PAF receptor in Kupffer cells in portal hypertension in rat / 解放军医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To study the changes in PAF and its receptor in Kupffer cells in experimental cirrhosis and to evaluate the role of activated Kupffer cells in portal hypertension. Methods Kupffer cells, isolated from the livers of control and CCl_4-induced cirrhotic rats, were cultured in serum-free medium overnight. PAF synthesis and release by Kupffer cells were determined 24 h later by rapid ~3H-PAF scintillation proximity assay, and the expression of PAF receptor in Kupffer cells by saturation binding technique and semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). By immunohistochemisty, the distribution of PAF in Kupffer cells was surveyed. Results Cell-associated PAF synthesis and release was increased about 1.48 fold and 2 fold, respectively, by Kupffer cells in cirrhotic liver as compared with the control (P0.05). Consistent with the receptor binding capacity, the mRNA expression of PAF receptor increased significantly in the Kupffer cells of cirrhotic liver (P