Lexipafant inhibits platelet activating factor enhanced neutrophil functions

Platelet activating factor (PAF) enhances polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) superoxide (·O₂) production, CD11b expression, and elastase release, all essential components in the pathophysiology of multiple-organ failure. This study was designed to determine the effects of Lexipafant, a PAF receptor antagonist, on PAF-mediated PMN functions. PMNs from 10 healthy volunteers were isolated and pretreated with various concentrations of Lexipafant (0-100 μM). PMNs were then incubated for 5 min with 200 nM PAF for ·O₂ detection or 2000 nM PAF for elastase measurement and activated with 1 μM N-formylmethionylleucylphenylalanine. The mean rate of ·O₂ production was determined by a cytochrome c reduction assay (nmole ·O₂/min/1.33 x 10⁶ PMN ± SEM). Elastase release was measured by the cleavage of the synthetic elastase substrate Meo-Suc-Ala-Ala-Pro-Val-pNA (mean elastolytic activity ± SEM). In parallel experiments, PMNs were incubated with 200 nM PAF for 30 min following pre-treatment with Lexipafant and CD11b expression was determined by flow cytometry (mean fluorescence intensity ± SEM). Statistical analysis was performed using repeated-measures ANOVA (P < 0.05). Lexipafant inhibited PAF-enhanced PMN ·O₂ generation, CD11b expression and elastase release in a dose dependent fashion. The IC₅₀ of Lexipafant for ·O₂ production, CD11b expression, and elastase release was 0.046, 0.285, and 0.05 μM, respectively. Lexipafant attenuated the PAF- mediated upregulation of PMN ·O₂ production, CD11b expression, and elastase release in a dose dependent fashion. These data support the hypothesis that Lexipafant may reduce the severity of the inflammatory response to injury produced by PAF-enhanced activation of PMNs.