Identification of receptors for platelet-activating factor in rat Kupffer cells

Ligand binding studies demonstrated that isolated rat Kupffer cells possess high affinity binding sites for platelet-activating factor (1-O-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, AGEPC). AGEPC binding reached saturation within 10 min at 25 degrees C and was reversible. A Scatchard analysis revealed a single class of AGEPC receptors numbering about 10,600 sites/cell and possessing a dissociation constant of 0.45 nM. Similar values for the dissociation constant for AGEPC (0.12 and 0.34 nM) were obtained independently by kinetic analysis of specific AGEPC binding. AGEPC binding was stereospecific and was inhibited by Zn2+ and AGEPC receptor antagonists including BN52021 and U66985. The AGEPC receptor was functionally active since it was shown to mediate arachidonic acid release and eicosanoid production in Kupffer cells, and these events were inhibited by AGEPC receptor antagonist BN52021. The receptor-mediated arachidonic acid release was extracellular calcium-dependent and was abolished by calcium channel blocker prenylamine and by [ethylenebis(oxyethylenenitrilo)]tetraacetic acid, indicating that calcium influx through a receptor-regulated calcium channel in the plasma membrane is involved in the AGEPC-induced arachidonic acid release. It is suggested that rat Kupffer cells have specific and functionally active AGEPC receptors which are involved in signaling mechanisms which govern the production of several other autacoid-type mediators in the liver.