Role of Platelet Activating Factor (PAF) as a Mediator of Inflammatory Diseases and Preterm Delivery

Am J Pathol. 2024 Feb 23:S0002-9440(24)00068-3. doi: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2024.01.018. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTNearly 70% of preterm deliveries occur spontaneously, and the clinical pathways involved include preterm labor (PTL) and preterm premature rupture of membranes (pPROM). Prediction of preterm delivery is considered crucial due to the significant effects of preterm birth on health and the economy at both the personal and community levels. Although similar inflammatory processes occur in both term and preterm delivery, the premature activation of these processes or exaggerated inflammatory response triggered by infection or sterile factors leads to preterm delivery. Platelet activating factor (PAF) is a phosphoglycerylether lipid mediator of inflammation that is implicated in infections, cancers, and various chronic diseases and disorders including cardiovascular, renal, cerebrovascular, and central nervous system diseases. In gestational tissues, PAF is proposed to mediate the inflammatory pathways that stimulate the effector mechanisms of labor, including myometrial contraction, cervical dilation, and fetal membrane rupture. Studies have shown that women with PTL and pPROM have increased levels of PAF in their amniotic fluid. In mice, the intrauterine or intraperitoneal administration of carbamyl PAF (cPAF) activates inflammation in gestational tissues, thereby eliciting preterm delivery. In this review, we aim to summarize recent research on PAF as an important inf...
Source: Am J Pathol - Category: Pathology Authors: Source Type: research