PLATELET-ACTIVATING-FACTOR (PAF) AND LYSO-PAF IN INFLAMED HUMAN SKIN

The extent of PAF synthesis and its role in inflammatory skin disorder s are not known. Skin exudates were collected from suction blisters or abrasions on healthy and inflamed human skin and analysed by gc-ms. T he mean PAF and lyso-PAF values for skin of healthy subjects were 1.86 +/-0.92 (n=7) and 160+/-21 (n=8) nM, respectively, in suction blister exudates, and 0.38+/-0.08 (n=14) and 11.0+/-1.9 (n=13) pmol/abrasion, respectively. PAF levels were not altered in psoriasis, nickel contact dermatitis, delayed pressure urticaria, mastocytosis or immediate and late phase reactions to antigen. Significantly, less lyso-PAF was fou nd in uninvolved skin of psoriasis. Increased lyso-PAF was found in ni ckel contact dermatitis compared with untreated skin of the same subje cts or skin or normal healthy volunteers. We conclude that, if PAF is a significant mediator of inflammation in human skin, it may remain as sociated with the synthesising cell or act in its immediate proximity.