PAF is a potent phospholipid mediator which exerts diverse biological actions by interaction with a G protein-coupled PAF receptor. The PAF receptor has been cloned from a number of species including human, rat, and guinea pig and is characterized as a 7-transmembrane receptor which induces phosphoinositol turnover through G-protein coupling.1,2,3,4,5 Northern blot analysis reveals that the receptor is expressed in leukocytes, placenta, lung, spleen, small intestine, kidney, liver, and brain.3,4 In leukocyte cell populations the receptor is found on platelets, monocytes, neutrophils, and B-cells, whereas resting T-cells and natural killer cell lines do not express the PAF receptor.6 Human monocytes treated with INF-γ have a 2-6 fold increase in PAF receptor expression compared to untreated cells.7 PAF receptor is detected on immunoblot at 48 kDa.8WARNING This product is not for human or veterinary use.
