Transient activation of 1-O-alkyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine: acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase during the incubation of macrophages.

The activity of the platelet-activating factor (PAF)-synthesizing enzyme, 1-O-alkyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (lysoPAF):acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase (EC 2.3.1.67) in alveolar macrophage lysate was found to be elevated after warming the cells to 37 degrees C. Such an increase in enzyme activity was detectable only when intact cells were warmed. The stimulation was transient, reaching a peak at 2 min, and then gradually decreased to the control level. We could not find increased PAF formation in warmed cells which had increased acetyltransferase activity, even though substantial amounts of lysoPAF were shown to be present within cells. In contrast, considerable amounts of PAF were formed after treatment of the cells with exogenous lysoPAF. These results suggest that the activation of acetyltransferase is not sufficient to induce PAF formation and that the increased availability of substrates, especially lysoPAF, in the cells is indispensable for triggering PAF biosynthesis in this type of cells.