- Platelet-activating factor exerts mitogenic activity and stimulates expression of interleukin 6 and interleukin 8 in human lung fibroblasts via binding to its functional receptor. Roth, M., Nauck, M., Yousefi, S., Tamm, M., Blaser, K., Perruchoud, A.P., Simon, H.U. J. Exp. Med. (1996)