Alkylglycerol monooxygenase as a potential modulator for PAF synthesis in macrophages

Alkylglycerol monooxygenase (AGMO, glyceryl ether monooxygenase) is an enzyme known to catalyze the cleavage of the O-alkyl bond of glyceryl ether lipids. Identification of the gene encoding AGMO was reported recently, however, the involvement of AGMO in modulating cellular lipids has not been reported until now. In this report, we investigate a possible role for AGMO in macrophage platelet-activating factor (PAF) production. AGMO mRNA expression levels decreased with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatments in mouse peritoneal macrophages and RAW264.7 cells. Tetrahydrobiopterin-dependent conversion of lyso-PAF to glycerophosphocholine in the microsomal fraction was also reduced in LPS-treated RAW264.7 cells. In the LPS-treated cells, both lyso-PAF and PAF levels increased. Moreover, exogenously expressed AGMO caused a reduction in cellular lyso-PAF and PAF levels in HEK293 cells. Collectively, our results suggest a possible mechanism for AGMO in modulating macrophage PAF production by regulating cellular lyso-PAF levels.