Platelet-Induced Pulmonary Hypertension and Edema: A Mechanism involving Acetyl Glyceryl Ether Phosphorylcholine and Thromboxane A2

Abstract

Intrapulmonary platelet sequestration is a common feature of the adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), 1 Schneider RC Zapol WM Carvalho AC Platelet consumption and sequestration in severe acute respiratory failure. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1980; 122: 445-451 PubMed Google Scholar but the specific contribution of platelets to ARDS is unknown. Further interest in the role of platelets in the pathogenesis of ARDS is stimulated by the elucidation of platelet activating factor (acetyl glyceryl ether phosphorylcholine—AGEPC). This naturally-occurring phospholipid is secreted by human alveolar macrophages 2 Arnoux B Duval D Benviniste J Release of platelet-activating factor (PAF-acether) from alveolar macrophages by the calcium ionophore A23187 and phagocytosis. Eur J Clin Invest. 1980; 10: 437-441 Crossref PubMed Scopus (117) Google Scholar and neutrophils, 3 Lotner GZ Lynch JM Betz SJ Henson PM Human neutrophil-derived platelet activating factor. J Immunol. 1980; 124: 676-684 PubMed Google Scholar causes platelets to release vasoactive substances, and generates pulmonary hypertension and respiratory distress when infused intravenously into rabbits. 4 McManus LM Hanahan DJ Demopoulos CA Pinckard RN Pathobiology of the intravenous infusion of acetyl glyceryl ether phosphorylcholine (AGEPC), a synthetic platelet-activating factor (PAF), in the rabbit. J Immunol. 1980; 124: 2919-2924 PubMed Google Scholar