Age-related increase of plasma platelet-activating factor concentrations in Chinese

Background: Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is a potent bioactive phospholipid, which may be one of the determinants of atherogenesis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the concentrations of plasma platelet-activating factor and age in a common Chinese population. Methods: Two-hundred seventy-nine Han nation subjects (male: n = 162; female: n = 117) who had visited two hospitals for overall health survey, as an annual medical check-up or for other reasons by clinical examinations were recruited and divided into six age groups (21-30, 31-40, 41-50, 51-60, 61-70, 71-80 years). PAF was extracted from their plasma and purified by thin-layer chromatography (TLC). The PAF concentrations were detected by radioimmunoassay. Results: The ME concentrations (pg/ml) in plasma showed significantly age-related increase (r = 0.3348. P < 0.01 n = 279). In the 21-30-year group, the PAT concentration was 338 96 pg/ml. Except for the 31-40-year group.. the PAF concentrations in other four groups were all higher than that of the 21-30-year group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively). Conclusions: Considering PAF is one of the key factors relevant to progression of atherogenesis, and the high concentrations of plasma PAF may therefore serve as a marker for the risk of atherosclerosis. Adjustment of the concentrations of plasma PAF correlated with aging may be helpful to reducing the prevalence rate of multi-senile arteriosclerosis Occlusive diseases. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.