platelet-activating factor
noun
plate·let-ac·ti·vat·ing factor
-ˌak-tə-ˌvāt-iŋ- 
: phospholipid that is produced especially by mast cells and basophils, causes the aggregation of blood platelets and the release of blood-platelet substances (as histamine or serotonin), and is a mediator of inflammation (as in asthma)
—abbreviation PAF
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Cite this Entry
“Platelet-activating factor.” Merriam-Webster.com Medical Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/platelet-activating%20factor. Accessed 25 Dec. 2024.
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