Presence paf-acether mediator of inflammation in stools of patients with inflammatory enterocolitis

Paf-acether (platelet-activating factor, paf) is one of the most potent inflammatory mediators synthesised by and acting on most inflammatory cells. Paf causes gastric ulcerations and ischemic bowel necrosis. Recently, we described the presence of paf in stools of patients bearing ileal pouch-anal anastomosis with pouchitis. These findings prompted us to search for the presence of paf in stools of patients suffering from inflammatory bowel diseases: Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. The fraction corresponding to paf isolated from stools exhibited the same physicochemical and biological characteristics as synthetic paf. Reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography revealed 80% of C16 and 20% of C18 paf. The presence of a biologically active phospholipid in human stools may bring new perspectives with respect to the study of gastrointestinal diseases as well as the use of paf antagonists in the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases.