platelet-activating factor

noun

plate·​let-ac·​ti·​vat·​ing factor -ˌak-tə-ˌvāt-iŋ- How to pronounce platelet-activating factor (audio)
: 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 21 Nov. 2024.

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