Platelet-activating factor (PAF-acether) formation in neonatal intestinal mucosa and in cultured intestinal epithelial cells.

We report the presence of platelet-activating factor (PAF-acether; 1-O-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine) in small-intestinal and colonic mucosa of neonatal rats. The PAF-acether content was higher in the colon than in the small intestine, and was lower in the small intestine of 30-day-old animals than in 14-day-old animals. We also report that cultured intestinal epithelial cells (INT 407) produce PAF-acether when stimulated with the calcium ionophore A23187, and that homogenized INT 407 cells can degrade PAF-acether with the formation of lysoPAF-acether. These findings suggest that intestinal epithelial cells are able to produce and metabolize PAF-acether, a potent mediator of inflammation. The authors propose that this might contribute to the pathophysiology of inflammatory bowel disease.