A role for platelet activating factor and platelets in the induction of bronchial hyperreactivity.

Platelet activating factor (PAF) is able to induce a long-lasting non-specific increase in bronchial hyperreactivity in both experimental animals and man. In the guinea-pig, PAF-induced bronchial hyperreactivity is secondary to platelet activation and associated with a recruitment of platelets into the lung. As platelets have been shown to be activated in clinical asthma and platelet abnormalities are a feature of this disease, it would seem justified to evaluate further the role of PAF and platelets in the induction of the bronchial hyperreactivity which characterizes asthma.