[Effect of BN52021 on platelet activating factor induced aggregation of psoriatic polymorphonuclear neutrophils].

We investigated the aggregation of PMN from 20 psoriasis patients (PP) and 12 health persons (HP) to PAF and the effect of PAF antagonist BN 52021 on the aggregation. PAF induced a dose dependent aggregative response of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) from PP and HP. The aggregative responses of PMN from PP to lower concentrations of PAF were increased (P < 0.05) and to higher concentrations of PAF were not different to that of PMN from HP. BN 52021 could time- and dose-dependently inhibit the aggregation of PMN from PP and HP to PAF, and their IC50 was 1.3 x 10(-6) mol and 1.2 x 10(-6) mol respectively. It is suggested that PAF and PMN play an important pathophysiological role in the development of psoriasis, and application of PAF antagonists may be a new and effective approach to the management of psoriasis.