Platelet-activating factor in cirrhotic liver and hepatocellular carcinoma

Figure 1 PAF, lyso-PAF, AHA, PLA₂ levels and PAF-R transcripts in cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic liver tissues. Upper panel shows the specimens of cirrhotic (n = 14) and non-cirrhotic tissue (n = 7) obtained during the surgical procedure. A: PAF determined by a platelet-aggregation assay, ^aP<0.05 vs non-cirrhotic; B: AHA determined by investigating the degradation of [³H]-PAF, (P = 0.33); C: PLA₂ assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, (P = 0.23); D: Lyso-PAF measured after its chemical acetylation into PAF, (P = 1.00). Results are expressed as mean±SE. Statistical analysis was performed using the Mann Whitney U-test. Lower panel shows PAF-R transcripts determined by RT-PCR. Expected sizes of amplified products were 225 bp (PAF-R transcript 1), 269 bp (PAF-R transcript 2), 351 bp (spliced variant of PAF-R transcript 2), and 439 bp (GAPDG). Sizes of PCR products and DNA size ladder are indicated by arrows. All experiments were performed in triplicate.

Figure 2 PAF, lyso-PAF, AHA, PLA₂ levels and PAF-R transcripts in HCC and non-tumour tissues. Upper panel shows specimens from 21 HCC patients obtained during the surgical procedure. A: PAF, ^aP < 0.05 vs non-tumour tissue; B: AHA (P = 0.24); C: PLA2 (P = 0.26); D: Lyso-PAF (P = 0.48). Statistical analysis was performed using the Students’ t-test for paired samples. Results are expressed as mean ± SE. Lower panel shows PAF-R transcripts determined by RT-PCR. Expected sizes of amplified products were 225 bp (PAF-R transcript 1), 269 bp (PAF-R transcript 2), 351 bp (spliced variant of PAF-R transcript 2), and 439 bp (GAPDG). Sizes of PCR products and DNA size ladder are indicated by arrows. All experiments were performed in triplicate.