Separate induction of human blood platelet aggregation or cytotoxicity by different concentrations of PAF-acether and thrombin.

Using decreasing concentrations of PAF-acether or thrombin, it was possible to observe on human platelets, first, aggregation, classically associated to activation, then , below a threshold, cytotoxicity towards Schistosoma mansoni larvae, proposed here as stimulation. These two activities appeared as distinct and antithetic. However, their induction might be the consequence of triggering of the same receptors with different intensity, since PAF-induced, but not thrombin-induced, cytotoxicity could be inhibited with specific PAF-antagonists BN 52021 and BN 52024 also known to inhibit PAF-induced aggregation. These results give credit to the hypothesis that haemostatic and cytotoxic properties of platelets are two distinct functions of these blood elements.