Enhanced human monocyte cytotoxicity by platelet-activating factor.

The capacity of platelet-activating factor (PAF) to enhance human monocyte cytotoxicity for WEHI 164 cells was examined. Spontaneous monocyte cytotoxicity was 24 +/- 2% (mean +/- SEM, n = 9). Preincubation of monocytes with 1 pM-1 nM PAF for 18 hr significantly enhanced cytotoxicity in a dose-related manner, whereas less enhancement was observed at PAF concentrations above 1 nM. Maximal PAF-induced cytotoxicity was 68 +/- 6%, which was similar to that induced by optimal concentrations of tumour necrosis factor (TNF) and interferon-gamma. The specific PAF antagonist kadsurenone inhibited PAF-induced cytotoxicity but not TNF-induced cytotoxicity. The inactive PAF analogues lysoPAF and enantioPAF did not increase monocyte cytotoxicity. Two observations suggest that TNF mediates PAF-induced cytotoxicity: specific anti-TNF antibodies inhibited PAF-induced cytotoxicity toward WEHI 164 cells, and PAF did not enhance cytotoxicity to TNF-resistant cells. PAF represents a distinct class of phospholipid monocyte activators that increase monocyte cytotoxicity by TNF-dependent mechanisms.