PHOSPHOLIPASE-C FROM CLOSTRIDIUM-PERFRINGENS STIMULATES FORMATION AND RELEASE OF PLATELET-ACTIVATING-FACTOR (PAF-ACETHER) IN CULTURED INTESTINAL EPITHELIAL-CELLS (INT-407)

This study demonstrates the ability of phospholipase C from Clostridium perfringens to stimulate the generation of platelet-activating factor (PAF-acether) in cultured intestinal epithelial cells (INT 407). Cells were exposed to phospholipase C for up to 60 min, and the content of PAF-acether within the cells and in the extracellular medium was determined. Phospholipase C caused a time-dependent formation of PAF-acether within the cells and also release of PAF-acether to the medium. In contrast, phospholipase C did not affect the cellular acetylhydrolase activity or the ability of the cells to metabolize extracellularly added C-14-PAF-acether. These findings suggest the possibility that intestinal epithelial cells, when stimulated with a naturally occurring intestinal bacterial toxin, generate and release PAF-acether. The possibility that this might contribute to the pathophysiology of inflammatory bowel disease is discussed.