Release of platelet-activating factor in human leukemia

Cellular release of platelet-activating factor (PAF) was assessed in a series of human acute and chronic lymphoid and myeloid leukemias at presentation or in an active phase of the disease. PAF-like material, showing physicochemical properties similar to those of synthetic PAF and of PAF released from IgE-sensitized rabbit basophils, was found in cultures of cells from 5 of 6 acute lymphoblastic leukemias (ALL) (2 of 2 T-ALL and 3 of 4 common ALL) and from 13 of 24 B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemias after stimulation with ionophore A23187 with or without phytohemagglutinin in the presence of acetyl coenzyme A. On the other hand, PAF was released only from 2 of 10 acute myeloblastic leukemias; both of them were of the more mature monoblastic subtype or M5 according to the French-American-British classification. Cells from all three cases of chronic myeloid leukemia studied were also capable of producing PAF. In eight cases of acute lymphoid and myeloid leukemia, the in vivo release of PAF was assessed by testing the plasma levels of this mediator. Only in two cases (one ALL and one acute myeloblastic leukemia) could detectable levels of circulating PAF be demonstrated; it is of interest that both of these cases showed clinical and hematological features of disseminated intravascular coagulation. No PAF was documented in the plasma of the five chronic leukemias tested (four B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemias and one chronic myeloid leukemia). These findings indicate that lymphoid and myeloid leukemic cells have a different capacity of releasing PAF, possibly related to the level of cell differentiation rather than to an intrinsic property of the neoplastic cells. Furthermore, in some cases, an intravascular release of PAF may occur.