Platelet-activating factor and human meningiomas

• Published in: Neuropathology and applied neurobiology 2006-12, Vol.32 (6), p.674-678
• Main Authors: Denizot, Y., De Armas, R., Caire, F., Pommepuy, I., Truffinet, V., Labrousse, F.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase; 1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase - metabolism; acetylhydrolase activity; Adult; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers, Tumor - analysis; Female; Humans; Immunology; Life Sciences; Male; Medical sciences; Meningeal Neoplasms; Meningeal Neoplasms - metabolism; Meningeal Neoplasms - pathology; Meningioma; Meningioma - metabolism; Meningioma - pathology; Middle Aged; Neovascularization, Pathologic; Neovascularization, Pathologic - metabolism; Neurology; phospholipase A2; Phospholipases A; Phospholipases A - metabolism; Phospholipases A2; Platelet Activating Factor; Platelet Activating Factor - metabolism; Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins; Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins - metabolism; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled - metabolism; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; Transcription, Genetic; Tumor Markers, Biological; Tumors of the nervous system. Phacomatoses; Vascular diseases and vascular malformations of the nervous system
• ISSN: 0305-1846; 1365-2990
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2990.2006.00775.x

Meningiomas are common primary intracranial tumours. Platelet‐activating factor (PAF) is an inflammatory and angiogenic lipid mediator involved in several types of cancer. The presence of PAF receptor (PAF‐R) transcripts, the levels of PAF, the phospholipase A2 activity (PLA2, the enzymatic activity implicated in PAF formation) and the PAF acetylhydrolase activity (AHA, the PAF degrading enzyme) were investigated in 49 human meningiomas. PAF‐R transcripts, PAF, PLA2 and AHA were detected in meningiomas. However, their levels did not correlate with biological parameters such as the tumour grade, the presence of associated oedema, necrosis, mitotic index as well as intensity of the neovascularization and chronic inflammatory response. In conclusion, PAF is present in meningiomas where it might act on tumour growth by altering the local angiogenic and/or cytokine networks as previously suggested for human breast and colorectal cancer.