Platelet-activating factor mobilizes intracellular calcium in vascular smooth muscle cells.

The effect of platelet-activating factor (PAF) on polyphosphoinositide metabolism and 45Ca2+ efflux was examined in a vascular smooth muscle cell line (A7r5). PAF stimulated a rapid but transient production of inositol trisphosphate and inositol bisphosphate which, in the presence of lithium, resulted in an accumulation of inositol monophosphate. In addition, PAF induced a rapid efflux of 45Ca2+ from preloaded cells, an effect which was concentration-dependent. These data suggest that PAF mobilizes intracellular Ca2+ via the production of inositol trisphosphate.