Age-related deficiency of the synthesis of platelet activating factor by leukocytes from Zellweger patients.

Ca2+-ionophore A23187-induced synthesis of the alkoxyether lipid platelet activating factor (PAF) by leukocytes from Zellweger patients was undetectable in two patients studied at 3 and 4 weeks of age, reduced in a third patient studied at 2 months of age, and in the low normal range in four patients studied between 4 months and 5 years of age. We have previously reported that plasmalogen-type phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) levels of erythrocytes are reduced in Zellweger patients up to 20 weeks of age, but normal in older patients. These levels were reduced in the three patients with abnormal PAF synthesis, and normal in the other four patients. The results suggest a close relationship between the age of the patients at sampling, and both the A23187-induced capacity of leukocytes to synthesize PAF and the plasmalogen PE levels in their erythrocytes.