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Platelet-activating factor, a new mediator of anaphylaxis and immune complex deposition from rabbit and human basophils

Nature volume 249, pages 581–582 (1974) Cite this article

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Abstract

AN increase in vascular permeability as a result of the release of vasoactive amines has been implicated as a ‘trigger mechanism’ of immune complex deposition1,2. Several immunological mechanisms of vasoactive amine release from rabbit platelets have been described3. Experiments have correlated the presence of one of these mechanisms, a complement-independent, leukocyte-dependent reaction, with the vascular deposition of complexes in acute4 and chronic5 serum sickness of rabbits. We have obtained direct evidence that this mechanism is due to basophils sensitised with IgE (ref. 6). Antigen-induced in vitro degranulation of basophils from rabbits immunised with peroxidase yielded a soluble factor (platelet-activating factor (PAF)) which aggregated rabbit platelets in leukocyte-free solutions6. Here we describe several characteristics of rabbit PAF and a PAF-like factor obtained from human leukocytes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. INSERM U 25, Clinique Néphrologique, Pr 5. Hamburger, Hôpital Necker, Paris, 75015, France

    J. BENVENISTE

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  1. J. BENVENISTE
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BENVENISTE, J. Platelet-activating factor, a new mediator of anaphylaxis and immune complex deposition from rabbit and human basophils. Nature 249, 581–582 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1038/249581a0

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