Review
Copyright ©2006 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jun 21, 2006; 12(23): 3695-3706
Published online Jun 21, 2006. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v12.i23.3695
Platelet-activating factor in liver injury: A relational scope
Nikolaos P Karidis, Gregory Kouraklis, Stamatios E Theocharis
Nikolaos P Karidis, Stamatios E Theocharis, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece
Nikolaos P Karidis, Gregory Kouraklis, Second Department of Propaedeutic Surgery, University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece
Correspondence to: Stamatios E Theocharis, Associate Professor of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, University of Athens Medical School, 75 Mikras Asias str, 11527 Goudi, Athens, Greece. statheocharis@yahoo.com
Telephone: +30-210-7462413 Fax: +30-210-7716098
Received: February 7, 2006
Revised: February 28, 2006
Accepted: March 10, 2006
Published online: June 21, 2006
Abstract

The hepatocyte, the main cellular component of the liver, exhibits variable susceptibility to different types of injury induced by endogenous or exogenous factors. Hepatocellular dysfunction or death and regeneration are dependent upon the complicated interactions between numerous biologically active molecules. Platelet-activating factor (PAF) seems to play a pivotal role as the key mediator of liver injury in the clinical and experimental setting, as implied by the beneficial effects of its receptor antagonists. A comprehensive up-to-date overview of the specific functional and regulatory properties of PAF in conditions associated with liver injury is attempted in this review.

Keywords: PAF; PAF-R antagonists; Liver; Injury; Regeneration