PLATELET-ACTIVATING-FACTOR IS A MEDIATOR IN TUMOR-NECROSIS-FACTOR GALACTOSAMINE-INDUCED LETHALITY

We here report that administration to mice of WEB2170, a potent platel et-activating factor (PAF) receptor antagonist, prevents both PAF-indu ced and murine tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-induced lethality in galact osamine (GalN)-sensitized mice. Furthermore, we demonstrate that pretr eatment with alpha(1)-acid glycoprotein (AGP) or interleukin-1 (IL-1) protects against TNF-induced, but not against PAF-induced lethality We conclude that PAF is a mediator in TNF/GalN-induced lethal shock, but that the protection conferred by AGP or IL-1 pretreatment is not at t he level of scavenging PAF. (C) 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.