Biomaterial Database

Airway responses to platelet-activating factor. 1987

R R Schellenberg

Platelet-activating factor is a potent mediator, with numerous biologic activities. It is capable of inducing both acute bronchoconstrictor responses in the lung in addition to increasing airway responsiveness to non-specific factors. It is this latter property that is especially intriguing since no other mediator of immediate hypersensitivity has been demonstrated to have such striking properties. The recent demonstration of induction of persistent (as long as 2 wk) airway hyperresponsiveness in humans after aerosolized PAF is an exciting development in our understanding of potential mediators of this entity. Much remains to be defined regarding the role of PAF in bronchial asthma including the cellular source of its production, the dependence of its effect upon other cell types such as platelets and polymorphonuclear leukocytes, the secondary mediator or mediators released from recruited cells, which are involved in producing the final pathophysiologic picture, and the mechanism by which altered airway responsiveness occurs.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008168	Lung	Either of the pair of organs occupying the cavity of the thorax that effect the aeration of the blood.	Lungs
D009119	Muscle Contraction	A process leading to shortening and/or development of tension in muscle tissue. Muscle contraction occurs by a sliding filament mechanism whereby actin filaments slide inward among the myosin filaments.	Inotropism,Muscular Contraction,Contraction, Muscle,Contraction, Muscular,Contractions, Muscle,Contractions, Muscular,Inotropisms,Muscle Contractions,Muscular Contractions
D009130	Muscle, Smooth	Unstriated and unstriped muscle, one of the muscles of the internal organs, blood vessels, hair follicles, etc. Contractile elements are elongated, usually spindle-shaped cells with centrally located nuclei. Smooth muscle fibers are bound together into sheets or bundles by reticular fibers and frequently elastic nets are also abundant. (From Stedman, 25th ed)	Muscle, Involuntary,Smooth Muscle,Involuntary Muscle,Involuntary Muscles,Muscles, Involuntary,Muscles, Smooth,Smooth Muscles
D010972	Platelet Activating Factor	A phospholipid derivative formed by PLATELETS; BASOPHILS; NEUTROPHILS; MONOCYTES; and MACROPHAGES. It is a potent platelet aggregating agent and inducer of systemic anaphylactic symptoms, including HYPOTENSION; THROMBOCYTOPENIA; NEUTROPENIA; and BRONCHOCONSTRICTION.	AGEPC,Acetyl Glyceryl Ether Phosphorylcholine,PAF-Acether,Phosphorylcholine, Acetyl Glyceryl Ether,1-Alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycerophosphocholine,Platelet Aggregating Factor,Platelet Aggregation Enhancing Factor,Platelet-Activating Substance,Thrombocyte Aggregating Activity,1 Alkyl 2 acetyl sn glycerophosphocholine,Aggregating Factor, Platelet,Factor, Platelet Activating,PAF Acether,Platelet Activating Substance
D012130	Respiratory Hypersensitivity	A form of hypersensitivity affecting the respiratory tract. It includes ASTHMA and RHINITIS, ALLERGIC, SEASONAL.	Airway Hyperresponsiveness,Hypersensitivity, Respiratory,Airway Hyper-Responsiveness,Airway Hyper Responsiveness,Airway Hyperresponsivenesses,Hyper-Responsiveness, Airway,Hyperresponsiveness, Airway,Respiratory Hypersensitivities
D006168	Guinea Pigs	A common name used for the genus Cavia. The most common species is Cavia porcellus which is the domesticated guinea pig used for pets and biomedical research.	Cavia,Cavia porcellus,Guinea Pig,Pig, Guinea,Pigs, Guinea
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D066298	In Vitro Techniques	Methods to study reactions or processes taking place in an artificial environment outside the living organism.	In Vitro Test,In Vitro Testing,In Vitro Tests,In Vitro as Topic,In Vitro,In Vitro Technique,In Vitro Testings,Technique, In Vitro,Techniques, In Vitro,Test, In Vitro,Testing, In Vitro,Testings, In Vitro,Tests, In Vitro,Vitro Testing, In