Insights into the Possible Mechanisms By Which Platelet-Activating Factor and PAF-receptors Function in Vascular Smooth Muscle in Magnesium Deficiency and Vascular Remodeling: Possible Links to Atherogenesis, Hypertension and Cardiac Failure

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is a phospholipid mediator and cell signaling molecule which displays multiple biological and pathophysiological attributes, running the gamut from inflammation to cell differentiation and proliferation [1-4]. As is well-known, PAF interacts with specific membrane PAF-receptors (PAF-Rs) to initiate all cellular responses via specific G-proteincoupled receptors [1-4]. Although these initiated membrane receptor phenomena are mostly established for several tissuecell systems [1-8], exactly how PAF and PAF-Rs cause vascular remodeling in hypertension and atherosclerosis is not clear. A little more than 15 years ago, PAF was identified as a molecule that stimulated activation of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kB)