Uremic ultrafiltrate inhibits platelet-activating factor synthesis.

BACKGROUND

Several studies have suggested that uremic toxins may adversely affect phagocytic leukocytes of chronic renal failure patients. Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is produced by phagocytic leukocytes and is a potent mediator of inflammation which is produced by leukocytes upon appropriate stimulation.

METHODS

We added uremic or normal ultrafiltrate, ultrafiltrate fractionated by reverse phase HPLC or compounds eluting at the same retention time as the fractionated ultrafiltrate, to normal leukocytes. Complement-coated baker's yeast spores were added to stimulate phagocytosis. Total PAF was purified by thin layer chromatography and quantified by bioassay on rabbit platelets. The activities of two enzymes involved in the synthesis of PAF, phospholipase A2 (PLA2) and acetyltransferase, were measured in the presence of fractionated ultrafiltrate.

RESULTS

Ultrafiltrate from both healthy and uremic subjects inhibited PAF synthesis, but the inhibitory effect was more substantial for uremic subjects. Ultrafiltrate fractionated by HPLC showed high PAF inhibition for late eluting hydrophobic fractions. Addition of phenol or p-cresol, two uremic toxins with similar elution pattern as the late fractions, also inhibited PAF synthesis. The activity of PLA2 and acetyltransferase was decreased in the presence of uremic ultrafiltrate.

CONCLUSIONS

We observed that uremic ultrafiltrate inhibits PAF synthesis upon stimulation with complement coated baker's yeast spores. The decrease in total PAF synthesis appears to be associated with an inhibition of phospholipase A2 and acetyltransferase activity, enzymes involved in the remodelling pathway for PAF synthesis.