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Platelet‐activating factor and lyso‐PAF possess direct antimicrobial properties in vitro
Author(s) -
Steel H. C.,
Cockeran R.,
Anderson R.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
apmis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.909
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1600-0463
pISSN - 0903-4641
DOI - 10.1034/j.1600-0463.2002.100206.x
Subject(s) - lysophosphatidylcholine , platelet activating factor , bacteria , chemistry , antimicrobial , biochemistry , gram positive bacteria , gram negative bacteria , potassium , in vitro , bacterial growth , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , phospholipid , phosphatidylcholine , escherichia coli , immunology , membrane , genetics , organic chemistry , gene
The effects of platelet‐activating factor (PAF) and lyso‐platelet‐activating factor (L‐PAF) at concentrations of 0.25–20 μg/ml on potassium transport and growth of gram‐positive and gram‐negative bacteria have been investigated in vitro and compared with those of lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC). Potassium transport was determined using 86 Rb + as tracer, while growth was measured according to the extent of uptake of radiolabeled amino acids. All of the test phospholipids caused dose‐related inhibition of 86 Rb + ‐uptake and growth of gram‐positive bacteria, the order of potency being PAF>LPC>L‐PAF. Gram‐negative bacteria, on the other hand, were less sensitive to the inhibitory effects of the phospholipids on K + transport and growth. Some, but not all, of the gram‐positive and gram‐negative bacteria were able to degrade LPC, but not PAF or L‐PAF, demonstrating that enzymatic degradation of phospholipids does not explain the differential sensitivity to these agents. The bioactive phospholipids LPC, PAF and L‐PAF may represent an oxygen‐independent antimicrobial host defense system operative primarily against gram‐positive bacteria.