Neutrophil responses to platelet-activating factor.

1-O-Alkyl-2-O-acetyl-sn-glycerol-3-phosphorylcholine (i.e., platelet-activating factor) was prepared and confirmed to possess potent platelet aggregating activity. It was also potent in aggregating and degranulating rabbit and human neutrophils. When injected into rabbits, the lipid induced profound neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, and anaphylactic symptoms. The lyso derivative of this lipid, 1-O-alkyl-sn-glycerol-3-phosphorylcholine, was inactive or several orders of magnitude weaker in inducing these responses. The acetylated lipid appears to be a potent stimulator of both platelets and neutrophils. Its anaphylactic-like toxicity may be related, at least in part, to its ability to aggregate or otherwise stimulate these cells.