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The pro-inflammatory lipid mediator platelet activating factor (PAF: 1-O-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine) accumulates in ischemia, epilepsy, and human immunodeficiency virus-1-associated dementia and is implicated in neuronal loss. The present study was undertaken to establish a role for its G-protein coupled receptor in regulating neurotoxicity. PC12 cells do not express PAF receptor mRNA as demonstrated by northern analysis and RT-PCR. In the absence of the G-protein coupled receptor, PAF (0.1-1 micro m) triggered chromatin condensation, DNA strand breaks, oligonucleosomal fragmentation, and nuclear disintegration characteristic of apoptosis. Lyso-PAF (0.001-1 micro m), the immediate metabolite of PAF, did not elicit apoptotic death. Concentrations of PAF or lyso-PAF that exceeded critical micelle concentration had physicochemical effects on plasma membrane resulting in necrosis. Apoptosis but not necrosis was inhibited by the PAF antagonist BN52021 (1-100 micro m) but not CV3988 (0.2-20 micro m). Ectopic PAF receptor expression protected PC12 transfectants from ligand-induced apoptosis. PAF receptor-mediated protection was inhibited by CV3988 (1 micro m). These data provide empirical evidence that: (i) PAF can initiate apoptosis independently of its G-protein coupled receptor; (ii) PAF signaling initiated by its G-protein coupled receptor is cytoprotective to PC12 cells; (iii) the pro- and anti-apoptotic effects of PAF on PC12 cells can be pharmacologically distinguished using two different PAF antagonists.

Various derivatives and isosteres of neolignans of the 2,5-diaryl tetrahydrofuran type have been synthesized as antagonists of platelet-activating factor (PAF). A detailed analysis of their structure-activity relationship (SAR) has revealed a clear preference for an asymmetrical molecular configuration with a high degree of stereo and chiral specificity associated with greater potency. The trans-2S,5S enantiomers are generally 10-200 times more potent in vitro than their corresponding cis or trans-2R,5R isomers. A similar stereochemical preference is indicated by the recently reported PAF antagonist MK-287 which has undergone clinical evaluation. An azido derivative L-662,025 has been characterized as a photolabile irreversible antagonist of PAF for the investigation of solubilized and partially purified PAF binding proteins from cell membranes. The biological justification for concomitant inhibition of both PAF receptor and 5-lipoxygenase in inflammation is well recognized. The feasibility of developing such dual-functional agents has been demonstrated by a group of dithiolane analogs of neolignans and several derivatives of futoenone.

To investigate the possible existence of subtypes of PAF receptors and antagonists, the relative activities of four typical competitive PAF antagonists, kadsurenone, BN 52021, WEB 2086 and L-659,989, were compared. Some differences in their inhibition of the specific binding of [3H]-PAF to human platelet and PMN membranes and PAF-induced platelet aggregation were observed. Synergism of the inhibition of platelet aggregation was indicated by combinations of suboptimal levels of two structurally unrelated antagonists, which suggested that the binding sites of these antagonists may not be identical. For 2,5-diaryl tetrahydrofurans, an unsymmetrical molecular configuration represented by the s,s-enantiomer of L-659,989 and its cyclopentane analogues is clearly preferred for optimal potency in vitro. The PAF-binding proteins from human platelet and bovine lung membranes have been solubilized and partially purified. As a research probe, L-662,025, which is an azido analogue of L-659,989, has been characterized as a photoactivable and irreversible PAF antagonist.

The inhibitory effects of several antiinflammatory agents on the specific binding of tritiated 1-O-alkyl-2-O-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphorylcholine, (platelet activating factor, PAF), with its receptor on isolated rabbit platelet plasma membranes were investigated. Several potent cyclooxygenase inhibitors do not inhibit 3H-PAF binding to its receptor sites. Yet, three others, indomethacin, phenylbutazone and sulfinpyrazone, as well as three non-cyclooxygenase inhibitors, the 3',4'-dimethoxy analog of indomethacin, the prodrug sulindac and its sulfone metabolite, are moderately active at relatively high concentrations (50 - 100 microM). Parallel inhibitions of 3H-PAF binding and PAF-induced platelet aggregation by derivatives of these antiinflammatory agents suggest that these inhibitors are probably interacting with the functional binding sites of PAF. The results clearly indicate that the configuration of PAF binding site is very different from the inhibitory site of cyclooxygenase. A preference for oxygenated substituents in these hydrophobic molecules to inhibit the PAF-receptor binding is noted. Some binding characteristics of the receptor are briefly discussed.

PAF (0.2 microM) induced maximal platelet aggregation in human PRP and [3H]-PAF (1-5 nM) binding to platelet membrane preparations had Kd value of 3.8 nM and Bmax of 200 fmoles/mg of protein. Without UV irradiation, a synthetic azido tetrahydrofuran derivative L662,025 was a reversible and competitive PAF-receptor antagonist with IC50 values of 5.6 +/- 0.3 microM (platelet aggregation) and 1.0 +/- 0.25 microM (receptor binding). Photolysis of L662,025 in the presence of PRP produced an irreversible inhibition of platelet aggregation and specific binding of [3H]-PAF (1 nM). L662,025 did not affect collagen- or ADP-induced human platelet aggregation before or after photolysis. It is a new probe that can be used to identify and characterize the PAF-receptor.

Specific and saturable binding of [3H]-labeled 1-0-alkyl-2-0-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (PAF) to membrane preparations of human lung tissues is demonstrated. The equilibrium dissociation constant (KD) was determined by Scatchard analysis to be 4.9 (+/- 1.7) X 10(-10)M and the maximal number of binding sites was estimated to be 140 (+/- 37) fmole/mg protein. The binding site is PAF specific and its selectivity toward PAF analogs is very similar to that in rabbit platelets. Two PAF receptor antagonists, kadsurenone and ginkgolide B, previously characterized in platelet systems, also displace the binding of [3H]-PAF to human lung homogenates. These data indicate that human lung tissues contain PAF specific receptors, and binding of PAF to these receptor sites may be the first step to initiate PAF-induced lung pathophysiology.

Evidence from three types of experiments indicates that platelet activating factor (PAF)1 is an important mediator of endotoxin-induced hypotension in rats. a) Endotoxin infusion stimulates the time-dependent appearance of PAF in the blood. b) PAF infusion results immediately (less than 30 sec) in hypotension while endotoxin-induced hypotension takes 3-5 min to occur, allowing time for PAF production. c) Infusion of the specific PAF-receptor antagonist kadsurenone (2.2 mumole/kg bolus, 0.9 mumoles/min/kg continuous infusion), which inhibits PAF-induced hypotension by 67%, causes a 67% reversal of endotoxin-elicited hypotension. An additional finding of this study is that rats respond hypotensively to each of a series of low-dose PAF infusions but only to the first low-dose endotoxin infusion. These endotoxin-refractory rats do respond to subsequent PAF infusions.

Mechanisms of platelet-activating factor (PAF)-induced increases of cutaneous vascular permeability in guinea pigs and in rats were further explored. PAF so far is the most potent vasoactive mediator, being more than 1000-fold more potent than histamine and bradykinin in both species. In guinea pigs, there is a time delay of 5 to 10 minutes before PAF action, whereas, in the rat, the increased vasopermeability occurs immediately following the intradermal PAF injection. Relative vasoactive potencies of PAF and several structure-related analogues in both species correlate very well with their relative inhibition of the binding of 3H-PAF to specific receptor sites on isolated rabbit platelet plasma membranes and their aggregatory abilities of rabbit platelets. Furthermore, the PAF-induced cutaneous vascular permeability is inhibitable by a competitive specific PAF receptor antagonist, kadsurenone, suggesting that binding of PAF to its specific receptor site is the first step to initiate its action of increased cutaneous vascular permeability. Several pure cyclooxygenase inhibitors, including indomethacin, diflunisal, and flurbiprofen, and the dual cyclooxygenase/lipoxygenase inhibitor, BW755C, but not the histamine antagonists, inhibit the PAF-induced vasopermeability in guinea pigs. The inhibition by indomethacin or BW755C can be fully reversed by coinjection intradermally with PAF and prostaglandin E1 but not leukotriene B4. Also, prostaglandin E1 but not leukotriene B4 enhances the guinea pig in vivo response to PAF in this model. However, in rats, none of the cyclooxygenase inhibitors, histamine antagonists, or BW755C inhibit the PAF effect of cutaneous phenomena even though prostaglandin E1 also enhances the PAF potency of the increased cutaneous vascular permeability. Kadsurenone, a competitive specific receptor antagonist, inhibits both histamine- and bradykinin-induced rat cutaneous vascular permeability which suggests that PAF may be involved in the vasopermeability induced by histamine and bradykinin.

By using tritiated 1-O-alkyl-2-O-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (3H-PAF), we have directly identified its specific binding sites on rabbit platelet plasma membranes. The equilibrium dissociation constant for 3H-PAF is 1.36 (+/- 0.05) X 10(-9) M at 0 degrees C. The number of binding sites is 1.61 (+/- 0.34) X 10(12)/mg of membrane, which corresponds to approximately 150-300 receptors/platelet (depending on membrane vesicle orientation). Binding of 3H-PAF to rabbit platelet plasma membrane is rapid (t1/2 less than 5 min at 0 degrees C) and reversible. For a series of PAF analogues, their affinity for the receptor sites parallels with their relative potency to induce platelet aggregation. PAF can cause contraction of smooth muscle of heart, parenchymal strip, trachea, and ileum. Specific PAF receptor binding was demonstrated with purified plasma membrane from several smooth muscles and from polymorphonuclear leukocytes but not from presumably PAF nonresponsive cells such as erythrocytes and alveolar macrophages. It is likely that the interaction of PAF with these binding sites initiates the specific responses of platelets, polymorphonuclear leukocytes, and smooth muscles.

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is a potent lipid mediator of inflammation and asthma. Using a receptor preparation of rabbit platelet membranes, we identified a novel antagonist of PAF in the methylene chloride extract of a Chinese herbal plant, haifenteng (Piper futokadsura). The active antagonist, kadsurenone, was isolated and characterized in several in vitro and in vivo assays. It is a specific and competitive inhibitor of PAF binding to its receptor with a Ki of 5.8 X 10(-8) M vs. a Ki of 6.3 X 10(-9) M for PAF itself. It inhibits PAF-induced aggregation of rabbit platelets and human neutrophils at 2.4-24 microM, without showing any PAF agonistic activity. It potently inhibits PAF-induced degranulation of human neutrophils at 2.5-50 microM, also without any agonist activity. Kadsurenone is active orally at 25-50 mg/kg of body weight in blocking PAF-induced cutaneous permeability in the guinea pig. It also inhibits PAF-induced increases of hematocrit and circulating N-acetylglucosaminidase in the rat at greater than 10 mg/kg i.p. in a dose-dependent manner. Kadsurenone does not interfere with the function of several pharmacological mediators and receptors tested. Its structural specificity is evidenced by the poor PAF-antagonistic activities of three related structures isolated from the same haifenteng extract.

The six (racemic or meso) isomers of 3,4-dimethyl-2,5-bis(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)tetrahydrofuran and four corresponding desmethyl analogues were prepared and assayed as inhibitors of platelet activating factor (PAF) receptor binding to rabbit platelet plasma membranes. The inhibition by these isomers is stereodependent and varies with the gross shape of the molecules as determined by the molecular mechanics program MM2. The most potent PAF antagonist in this group of compounds is trans-2,5-bis(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)tetrahydrofuran (L-652,731, 14) with an IC50 of 0.02 microM.

trans-2,5-Bis(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)tetrahydrofuran (L-652,731) is found to be a potent and orally active platelet activating factor (PAF)-specific and competitive receptor antagonist. It potently inhibits [3H]PAF (1 nM) binding to receptor sites on rabbit platelet membranes with an ED50 of 2 X 10(-8) M under the assay condition without the addition of mono- or divalent cations. In a comparative study, it is more potent than CV-3988, kadsurenone, and ginkgolide B as a receptor antagonist. The equilibrium dissociation constants (KB) of L-652,731 obtained either from the inhibition of receptor binding or from the inhibition of PAF-induced aggregation of gel-filtered rabbit platelet are 2.7 X 10(-8) and 2.1 X 10(-8) M, respectively. The agreement of these KB determinations based on receptor and cellular function suggests that L-652,731 does not inhibit other steps following PAF-receptor binding. L-652,731 does not antagonize the binding of several radioligands to their respective receptor. It shows no inhibitory effect on platelet aggregation induced by other aggregating agents including thrombin, collagen, A-23187, arachidonic acid, epinephrine, and ADP. L-652,731 is orally active; it inhibits PAF-induced rat cutaneous vascular permeability with an ED50 of 30 mg/kg orally. Significant inhibitory results of L-652,731 suggest that PAF may be partially involved in cutaneous vascular permeability induced by histamine and bradykinin.

Intravenous infusion of platelet activating factor into rats at doses of 5-20 nmoles/kg results in a rapid and dose-dependent increase in the plasma level of several lysosomal hydrolases, notably glucosaminidase. This hydrolase secretion occurs concomitantly with the increased vascular permeability but subsequent to the neutropenia and hypotensive responses to platelet activating factor. The glucosaminidase release in vivo does not exhibit any lasting desensitization, does not require cytochalasin B, and is quantitatively the same in rats made neutropenic with anti-neutrophil serum, and thus is different from the published in vitro degranulating effect of this lipid with neutrophils. Therefore, lysosomal hydrolase secretion may be an important pathophysiologic response to very low blood levels of platelet activating factor.

A natural product, kadsurenone, was isolated from the Chinese herbal preparation haifenteng (Caulis piperis futokadsurae) and characterized as an orally-active specific antagonist of the platelet-activating factor (PAF). Kadsurenone inhibits the specific binding of 3H-PAF to a receptor preparation from rabbit platelet membrane in a competitive and reversible manner, its Ki being 3.88 X 10(-8) M. It inhibits the aggregation of rabbit platelets in plasma induced by PAF with a pA2 of 6.28, but not those induced by arachidonic acid, epinephrine, ADP or A-23187. It inhibits the aggregation of isolated human neutrophils with a pA2 of 6.32. It also inhibits PAF-induced degranulation and release of beta-D-glucuronidase at 2-24 microM in vitro. In the rat, kadsurenone at 8-40 mg/kg i.p. inhibits the increases of plasma lysosomal enzymes and haematocrit induced by intravenous PAF. In the guinea pig, kadsurenone at 25-50 mg/kg p.o. reduces the increase of cutaneous vascular permeability induced by PAF. These results indicate that kadsurenone is a specific and effective receptor antagonist of PAF in several in vitro and in vivo systems.

Platelet activating factor (PAF), a potent lipid-like vasoactive agent, induced rat foot edema when it was injected subplantarly. The edema reached its maximum 1 h after PAF challenge. Indomethacin did not inhibit the peak edematous response whereas both PAF antagonists, kadsurenone and L-652,731, inhibit the PAF-induced rat foot edema (PFE). Both PAF antagonists also partially block the first phase of the carrageenin-induced rat foot edema (CFE). Using the inhibition of [3H]PAF receptor binding to prepared rabbit platelet membranes, release of PAF or PAF-like materials in carrageenin-injected rat hindpaw was observed. These results suggest that the released PAF or PAF-like materials together with the released histamine and kinin evoke the first phase hindpaw edema in the rats. Indomethacin or PAF antagonist, administered alone, does not block the first phase or the second phase of CFE, respectively. However, PAF antagonist potentiated the inhibitory effects of indomethacin suggesting that the released PAF may also be involved in the biosynthesis of prostaglandins to initiate the second phase of rat CFE.

Kadsurenone, a specific receptor antagonist of platelet-activating factor (PAF), and its analogues were prepared from derivatives of cinnamyl alcohol and (allyloxy)phenol. Racemic kadsurenone, resolvable by a Chiralpak column at low temperatures, has an IC50 value of 2 X 10(-7) M, which is about 50% of the activity of the natural product (IC50 = 1 X 10(-7) M). The structural specificity of kadsurenone was further demonstrated by the low PAF-receptor-blocking activities of denudatin B, mirandin A, desallylkadsurenone, and the 2-epimer of kadsurenone.