Retro-all-D and retro isomers of a formyl-methionyl peptide chemoattractant: an insight into the mode of binding at the receptor on rabbit neutrophils

The retro-all-D analog and retro isomer of the formyl-methionyl-carboxamide-tripeptide chemoattractant, CHO-L-Met-L-Leu-L-Phe-NH2, namely CHO-D-Phe-D-Leu-D-Met-NH2 and CHO-L-Phe-L-Leu-L-Met-NH2, respectively, have been synthesized in solution by classical methods and fully characterized. The tetrapeptide CHO-L-Phe-Gly-L-Leu-L-Met-NH2, representing the C-terminal portion of the tachykinin, Substance P, and resembling the sequence of the retro isomer, has also been synthesized and characterized. The three N alpha-formylated tripeptide amides, prepared in order to obtain a deeper insight into the model of binding at the formyl peptide chemotactic receptor on rabbit neutrophils, have been tested for their ability to induce granule enzyme secretion from rabbit peritoneal neutrophils. The retro isomer, CHO-L-Phe-L-Leu-L-Met-NH2 is approximately 100-fold less active, the retro-all-D analog, CHO-D-Phe-D-Leu-D-Met-NH2 approximately 10,000-fold less active and the Substance P analog CHO-L-Phe-Gly-L-Leu-L-Met-NH2 1000-fold less active than the parent formyl peptide chemoattractant, CHO-L-Met-L-Leu-L-Phe-NH2. We interpret these results to indicate that a precise alignment of amino acid side chains as well as backbone amide bonds is an important factor involved in the receptor recognition of the formyl tripeptide chemoattractant.     

Differential amplification of antagonistic receptor pathways in neutrophils.

In human neutrophils approximately 500 ligand-occupied beta-adrenergic receptors almost completely inhibit the superoxide production generated by at least 50,000 formyl peptide receptors, suggesting a massive amplification of the inhibitory receptor signals. We estimated two stages of amplification. In the first stage, we quantitated the ligand-dependent GTPase activities. For the formyl peptide receptor, the number of phosphates released from GTP in the presence of the saturating ligand is relatively modest, i.e. approximately 1/min/receptor, even though there are approximately 200 Gn (Gi type II) proteins/formyl peptide receptor in neutrophil membranes. In contrast, the number of GTPs cleaved in the presence of a beta-adrenergic agonist is approximately 100/min/beta-adrenergic receptor, and there are about 700 Gs/beta-adrenergic receptor in membranes. Thus the signal of the beta-adrenergic receptor is already massively amplified at the G protein, whereas the signal of the formyl peptide receptor is likely to be amplified at subsequent steps. New kinetic evidence from intact cells and biochemical evidence from permeabilized cells is provided that the second messenger of the inhibitory pathway is cAMP. To estimate the amplification of this step, we determined the cAMP concentration necessary to maximally inhibit superoxide anion production of formyl peptide-stimulated electropermeabilized cells, and we compare these concentrations to previously determined values of cAMP production in neutrophils. We conclude that each receptor may generate up to 10,000 molecules of cAMP.     

Activity of substance P analogs substituted at the Gly9 and Gln6 positions

We have prepared peptide derivatives of Substance P in which Gly⁹ or Gln⁶ in the C-terminal part of the molecule have been substituted and we have examined the activity of these peptides using the guinea pig ileum bioassay. Gly⁹ can be substituted without a significant effect on the activity by Ala or Sar but not with DAla or βAla. Derivatives of the C-terminal pentapeptide were prepared and were almost as potent as the undecapeptide Substance P. The results presented are of particular relevance for the future design of radioactive receptor ligands of high affinity, of Substance P antagonists and of affinity labels.     

Formyl peptide receptor 1 promotes podocyte injury through regulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways

Podocyte injury contributes to glomerular injury and is implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. Formyl peptide receptor (FPR) 1 is abundantly expressed in neutrophils and mediates intracellular transport of Ca ²⁺. Intracellular Ca ²⁺ regulates pathological process in renal podocyte and plays a role in diabetic nephropathy. However, the role of formyl peptide receptor 1 in podocyte injury of diabetic nephropathy has not been reported yet. Firstly, a rat model with diabetic nephropathy was established by streptozotocin injection, and a cell model was established via high glucose treatment of mouse podocytes (MPC5). Formyl peptide receptor 1 was enhanced in streptozotocin-induced rats and high glucose-treated MPC5. Secondly, streptozotocin injection promoted the glomerular injury with decreased nephrin and podocin. However, tail injection with adenovirus containing shRNA for silencing of formyl peptide receptor 1 attenuated streptozotocin-induced glomerular injury and the decrease in nephrin and podocin. Moreover, silencing of formyl peptide receptor 1 repressed cell apoptosis of podocytes in diabetic rats and high glucose-treated MPC5. Lastly, protein expression levels of p-p38, p-ERK, and p-JNK protein were up-regulated in streptozotocin-induced rats and high glucose-treated MPC5. Silencing of formyl peptide receptor 1 attenuated high glucose-induced increase in p-p38, p-ERK, and p-JNK in MPC5, and over-expression of formyl peptide receptor 1 aggravated high glucose-induced increase in p-p38, p-ERK, and p-JNK. In conclusion, inhibition of formyl peptide receptor 1 preserved glomerular function and protected against podocyte dysfunction in diabetic nephropathy.     

Characterization of the formyl peptide chemotactic receptor appearing at the phagocytic cell surface after exposure to phorbol myristate acetate

We examined the biochemistry and subcellular source of new formyl peptide chemotactic receptor appearing at the human neutrophil and differentiated HL-60 (d-HL-60) cell surface after stimulation with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA). Formyl peptide receptor was analyzed by affinity labeling with formyl-norleu-leu-phe-norleu-[125I]iodotyr-lys and ethylene glycol bis(succinimidyl succinate) followed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and densitometric analysis of autoradiographs. PMA, a specific granule secretagogue, increases affinity labeling of formyl peptide receptors on the neutrophil surface by 100%, and on d-HL-60, which lack specific granule markers, by 20%. Papain treatment markedly reduces surface labeling of formyl peptide receptor in both neutrophils and d-HL-60, and results in the appearance of a lower m.w. membrane-bound receptor fragment. PMA stimulation of papain-treated cells increases uncleaved surface receptor on neutrophils by 400%, and on d-HL-60 by only 45%. This newly appearing receptor is the same apparent m.w. (55,000 to 75,000 for neutrophils; 62,000 to 80,000 for d-HL-60) and yields the same papain cleavage product (Mr, 31,000 for neutrophils; Mr, 29,000 for d-HL-60) as receptor on the surface of unstimulated cells. Formyl peptide receptor detected by affinity labeling in neutrophil specific granule-enriched subcellular fractions is identical to receptor found on the surface of unstimulated cells appearing as equal amounts of two isoelectric forms (isoelectric points, 5.8 and 6.2) at Mr 55,000 to 70,000. There is twice as much receptor present in the specific granule-enriched fraction per cell equivalent compared with plasma membrane. Azurophil granules contain trace amounts of receptor. Similar analysis of neutrophils treated with papain before subcellular fractionation shows that papain cleaved receptor fragment is detectable almost exclusively in the plasma membrane-enriched fraction. Most of the affinity-labeled formyl peptide receptor present in specific granule enriched fraction is present in membranes other than plasma membrane or Golgi membrane, because specific granule-enriched fraction contains only a small amount of plasma membrane marker and an amount of Golgi membrane marker equal to that found in plasma membrane-enriched fraction.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

PKC-δ controls the fMLF-induced overproduction of superoxide by neutrophils

Antimicrobial defense by neutrophils implicates the production of reactive oxygen species. Neutrophil responses can be modulated by agonists such as bacterial peptides and proinflammatory factors that modulate neutrophil activity and survival. We evaluated the production of superoxide anions (O₂^?) in response to fMLF by normal human neutrophils after 3 days of preincubation with GM-CSF + IL-4 + TNF-α (survival medium). After 3 days of incubation in survival medium, long-lived neutrophils produced up to six times more O₂^? relative to control neutrophils in response to fMLF and WKYMVM. This augmented response to fMLF was preferentially linked to formyl peptide receptor (FPR), whereas the response to WKYMVM was dependent on formyl peptide receptor-like 1 (FPRL-1). Real-time RT-PCR revealed a diminution of FPR and FPRL-1 expression in neutrophils incubated in survival medium. fMLF-induced overproduction of O₂^? by long-lived neutrophils was independent of intracellular calcium mobilization. The protein tyrosine phosphorylation profile of long-lived neutrophils was modified with respect to control cells. Pharmacological inhibitors of intracellular signals indicated that mechanisms of the excessive fMLF-induced production of O₂^? by long-lived neutrophils implicated the protein kinase C (PKC) pathway, preferentially the PKC-δ isoform, whose protein was augmented in these cells. Thus, long-term cytokine exposure modifies molecular pathways and functional characteristics of the neutrophil.     

The anti-infective peptide, innate defense-regulator peptide, stimulates neutrophil chemotaxis via a formyl peptide receptor

The anti-infective peptide, innate defense-regulator peptide (IDR-1), has been selectively reported to modulate the innate immune response. We found that IDR-1 stimulates the chemotactic migration in human neutrophils. Moreover, IDR-1-induced neutrophil chemotaxis was completely blocked by pertussis toxin, suggesting the importance of the G_i protein in this process. The mechanism governing the IDR-1-induced neutrophil chemotaxis was found to be completely inhibited by the formyl peptide receptor (FPR) antagonist; cyclosporin H. IDR-1 was also found to induce chemotactic migration in FPR but not in vector-expressing HCT116 cells. Meanwhile, IDR-1 failed to stimulate superoxide anion generation and intracellular calcium increase in human neutrophils. Furthermore, IDR-1 was found to inhibit fMLF (an FPR agonist)-induced superoxide generation and calcium signaling in human neutrophils and FPR-expressing HCT116 cells. Taken together, the results demonstrate that IDR-1 is a partial agonist for FPR and further, stimulates neutrophil chemotaxis without inducing calcium signaling and superoxide generation.     

LTB4 is a signal-relay molecule during neutrophil chemotaxis

Neutrophil recruitment to inflammation sites purportedly depends on sequential waves of chemoattractants. Current models propose that leukotriene B(4) (LTB(4)), a secondary chemoattractant secreted by neutrophils in response to primary chemoattractants such as formyl peptides, is important in initiating the inflammation process. In this study we demonstrate that LTB(4) plays a central role in neutrophil activation and migration to formyl peptides. We show that LTB(4) production dramatically amplifies formyl peptide-mediated neutrophil polarization and chemotaxis by regulating specific signaling pathways acting upstream of actin polymerization and MyoII phosphorylation. Importantly, by analyzing the migration of neutrophils isolated from wild-type mice and mice lacking the formyl peptide receptor 1, we demonstrate that LTB(4) acts as a signal to relay information from cell to cell over long distances. Together, our findings imply that LTB(4) is a signal-relay molecule that exquisitely regulates neutrophil chemotaxis to formyl peptides, which are produced at the core of inflammation sites.     

Specific binding of an immunoreactive and biologically active 125I-labeled N(1)acylated substance P derivative to parotid cells

A biologically active ¹²⁵I-substance P derivative (I¹²⁵-BH-substance P), prepared by conjugation of substance P with [^125I]Bolton-Hunter reagent, binds specifically to isolated rat parotid cells. The Kd is 4 nM for I-BH-substance P, 5 nM for substance P, 0.18 μM for substance P octa(4–11)peptide, and 1.6 μM for substance P [pyroglutamyl⁶]hexa(6–11)peptide. Substance P free acid and substance P penta(7–11)peptide are much weaker competitors and the C-terminal tri(9–11)peptide has no effect at 30 μM. The binding is also inhibited by 1 μM physalaemin, eledoisin and substance P methyl ester, but not by unrelated peptides. The selective inhibition of the binding by the biologically active analogs and fragments of substance P indicates that the ¹²⁵I-labeled N(1)acylated substance P derivative may interact with a substance P receptor on parotid cells.     

The FPR2-specific ligand MMK-1 activates the neutrophil NADPH-oxidase,but triggers no unique pathway for opening of plasma membrane calcium channels

Human neutrophils express formyl peptide receptor 1 and 2 (FPR1 and FPR2), two highly homologous G-protein-coupled cell surface receptors important for the cellular recognition of chemotactic peptides. They share many functional as well as signal transduction features, but some fundamental differences have been described. One such difference was recently presented when the FPR2-specific ligand MMK-1 was shown to trigger a unique signal in neutrophils [S. Partida-Sanchez, P. Iribarren, M.E. Moreno-Garcia, et al., Chemotaxis and calcium responses of phagocytes to formyl peptide receptor ligands is differentially regulated by cyclic ADP ribose, J. Immunol. 172 (2004) 1896–1906]. This signal bypassed the emptying of the intracellular calcium stores, a route normally used to open the store-operated calcium channels present in the plasma membrane of neutrophils. Instead, the binding of MMK-1 to FPR2 was shown to trigger a direct opening of the plasma membrane channels. In this report, we add MMK-1 to a large number of FPR2 ligands that activate the neutrophil superoxide-generating NADPH-oxidase. In contrast to earlier findings we show that the transient rise in intracellular free calcium induced by MMK-1 involves both a release of calcium from intracellular stores and an opening of channels in the plasma membrane. The same pattern was obtained with another characterized FPR2 ligand, WKYMVM, and it is also obvious that the two formyl peptide receptor family members trigger the same type of calcium response in human neutrophils.     

Formyl peptide leukocyte chemoattractant uptake and release by cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells

Recent observations support an active role for the vascular endothelial cell in the induction and evolution of the inflammatory response. Since prior studies suggested that cultured bovine endothelial cells express high affinity binding sites for the neutrophil chemotactic oligopeptide formyl methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (f-Met-Leu-Phe), we sought to further characterize the interaction between formyl peptide chemoattractants and human vascular endothelial cells. Cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells and peripheral blood neutrophils specifically bound f-Met-Leu-[3H]Phe, whereas specific binding to cultured fibroblasts, smooth muscle, and epithelial cells was negligible. Endothelial cells expressed 3.6 +/- 0.7 X 10(5) binding sites/cell with a Kd of 210 +/- 31 nM. Although the hexapeptide formyl norleucyl-leucyl-phenylalanyl-norleucyl-tyrosyl-lysine (f-Nle-Leu-Phe-Nle-Tyr-Lys) and the tetrapeptide f-Met-Leu-Phe-Lys completed with f-Met-Leu-[3H]Phe for binding to endothelial cells, specific binding of 125I-f-Nl-Leu-Phe-Tyr-Lys or f-Met-Leu-Phe-Lys-fluorescein to endothelial cells was not observed, suggesting that steric constraints on formyl peptide binding differ between endothelial cells and leukocytes. At 37 degrees C, cell-associated f-Met-Leu-[3H]Phe greatly exceeded that bound at 0 degrees C and was incorporated predominantly into a nondisplaceable compartment. Release of f-Met-Leu-[3H]Phe or radioactive breakdown products from this compartment was time- and temperature-dependent with a t1/2 of approximately equal to 20 min at 37 degrees C. Resolution of the radioactive products released from f-Met-Leu-[3H]Phe-loaded endothelial cells by thin layer chromatography indicated that greater than or equal to 57% of the released material co-migrated with intact f-Met-Leu-[3H]Phe. Degradative release was blocked by agents that interfere with lysosomal acidification. The radioactive material released from f-Met-Leu-[3H]Phe-loaded endothelial cells bound specifically to neutrophils. This binding was inhibited 50.2 +/- 6.4% by a greater than or equal to 10(3)-fold excess of nonradioactive f-Met-Leu-Phe whereas binding of authentic f-Met-Leu-[3H]Phe was inhibited 89.4 +/- 3.0%. Supernatant obtained from f-Met-Leu-[3H]Phe-loaded endothelial cells elicited a rise in neutrophil cytosolic free calcium ([Ca2+]i) measured by quin2 fluorescence. The change in neutrophil [Ca2+]i depended on ligand binding to the neutrophil formyl peptide receptor since endothelial supernatants were devoid of activity in the presence of the f-Met-Leu-Phe antagonist, tert-butoxycarbonyl-Phe-Leu-Phe-Leu-Phe.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Identification of formyl peptides from Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus as potent chemoattractants for mouse neutrophils

The prototypic formyl peptide N-formyl-Met-Leu-Phe (fMLF) is a major chemoattractant found in Escherichia coli culture supernatants and a potent agonist at human formyl peptide receptor (FPR) 1. Consistent with this, fMLF induces bactericidal functions in human neutrophils at nanomolar concentrations. However, it is a much less potent agonist for mouse FPR (mFPR) 1 and mouse neutrophils, requiring micromolar concentrations for cell activation. To determine whether other bacteria produce more potent agonists for mFPR1, we examined formyl peptides from Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus for their abilities to activate mouse neutrophils. A pentapeptide (N-formyl-Met-Ile-Val-Ile-Leu (fMIVIL)) from L. monocytogenes and a tetrapeptide (N-formyl-Met-Ile-Phe-Leu (fMIFL)) from S. aureus were found to induce mouse neutrophil chemotaxis at 1-10 nM and superoxide production at 10-100 nM, similar to the potency of fMLF on human neutrophils. Using transfected cell lines expressing mFPR1 and mFPR2, which are major forms of FPRs in mouse neutrophils, we found that mFPR1 is responsible for the high potency of fMIVIL and fMIFL. In comparison, activation of mFPR2 requires micromolar concentrations of the two peptides. Genetic deletion of mfpr1 resulted in abrogation of neutrophil superoxide production and degranulation in response to fMIVIL and fMIFL, further demonstrating that mFPR1 is the primary receptor for detection of these formyl peptides. In conclusion, the formyl peptides from L. monocytogenes and S. aureus are approximately 100-fold more potent than fMLF in activating mouse neutrophils. The ability of mFPR1 to detect bacterially derived formyl peptides indicates that this important host defense mechanism is conserved in mice.     

The effect of the cyclopropyl group on the conformation of chemotactic formyl tripeptides

Certain formyl peptides are powerful chemoattractants towards neutrophils. In this study, several formyl tripeptides were synthesized and used to investigate the effects of different amino acid residues in position 1 on their ability to stimulate neutrophil chemotaxis. Pig neutrophil chemotaxis towards the formyl tripeptide, HCO-Ac(3)C-Leu-Phe-OMe 1, where Ac(3)C represents 1-amino-1-cyclopropane carboxylic acid, was observed. Pig neutrophil chemotaxis towards a very similar formyl tripeptide, HCO-Aib-Leu-Phe-OMe 2, where Aib represents alpha-amino isobutyric acid, was not observed. Compared to the isopropyl group, it was shown that the cyclopropyl group induces a greater percentage of the E conformation about the formamide functionality in these peptides. For 1 and 2, the E isomer distributions in CDCl3 are 36 and 9%, respectively. Since a major difference between these two peptides is the Z/E isomeric distribution, one implication is that the peptide-receptor site interactions involving the E conformer are more effective than those of the Z conformer. No pig neutrophil chemotaxis towards the formyl tripeptides, HCO-Ala-Leu-Phe-OMe 3 and HCO-Gly-Leu-Phe-OMe 4 was observed. These formyl tripeptides exhibit a low percentage of the E isomer, similar to that of peptide 2.     

Structural Determinants for the Interaction of Formyl Peptide Receptor 2 with Peptide Ligands

Unlike formyl peptide receptor 1 (FPR1), FPR2/ALX (FPR2) interacts with peptides of diverse sequences but has low affinity for the Escherichia coli-derived chemotactic peptide fMet-Leu-Phe (fMLF). Using computer modeling and site-directed mutagenesis, we investigated the structural requirements for FPR2 to interact with formyl peptides of different length and composition. In calcium flux assay, the N-formyl group of these peptides is necessary for activation of both FPR2 and FPR1, whereas the composition of the C-terminal amino acids appears more important for FPR2 than FPR1. FPR2 interacts better with pentapeptides (fMLFII, fMLFIK) than tetrapeptides (fMLFK, fMLFW) and tripeptide (fMLF) but only weakly with peptides carrying negative charges at the C terminus (e.g. fMLFE). In contrast, FPR1 is less sensitive to negative charges at the C terminus. A CXCR4-based homology model of FPR1 and FPR2 suggested that Asp-281^7.32 is crucial for the interaction of FPR2 with certain formyl peptides as its negative charge may be repulsive with the terminal COO- group of fMLF and negatively charged Glu in fMLFE. Asp-281^7.32 might also form a stable interaction with the positively charged Lys in fMLFK. Site-directed mutagenesis was performed to remove the negative charge at position 281 in FPR2. The D281^7.32G mutant showed improved affinity for fMLFE and fMLF and reduced affinity for fMLFK compared with wild type FPR2. These results indicate that different structural determinants are used by FPR1 and FPR2 to interact with formyl peptides.     

Calcium modulation and chemotactic response: divergent stimulation of neutrophil chemotaxis and cytosolic calcium response by the chemotactic peptide receptor

Stimulation of neutrophils by chemoattractants is followed by a rapid, transient rise in cytosolic calcium concentration. The role of calcium in activation of cell movement and related responses was examined by selectively chelating extracellular or both extra- and intracellular calcium. Removal of calcium from the extracellular medium did not alter the cytosolic calcium concentration (Quin 2 fluorescence, 110 to 120 nM) of unstimulated neutrophils and did not dramatically affect the rise induced by formyl peptide. Despite the intact Quin 2 response, depletion of extracellular calcium partially inhibited chemotaxis, adherence to substrate, and polarization (increased forward light scatter) in response to formyl peptide. Loading neutrophils with Quin 2 in the absence of calcium depressed cytosolic Ca2+ to 10 to 20 nM and abrogated a detectable rise with formyl peptide stimulation. Depletion of intracellular calcium further inhibited chemotaxis and polarization, although neutrophils still demonstrated significant directed migration and shape change to formyl peptide (30 to 40% of control) without an increase in Quin 2 fluorescence. Other neutrophil responses related to chemotaxis (decreased right-angle light scatter, actin polymerization) were minimally affected by depletion of calcium from either site. The data indicate that neutrophil chemotaxis and related responses to formyl peptide may be activated by intracellular signals not detectable with Quin 2.     

The FPR2-induced rise in cytosolic calcium in human neutrophils relies on an emptying of intracellular calcium stores and is inhibited by a gelsolin-derived PIP<Subscript>2</Subscript>-binding peptide

Background  

The molecular basis for neutrophil recognition of chemotactic peptides is their binding to specific G-protein-coupled cell surface receptors (GPCRs). Human neutrophils express two pattern recognition GPCRs, FPR1 and FPR2, which belong to the family of formyl peptide receptors. The high degree of homology between these two receptors suggests that they share many functional and signal transduction properties, although they exhibit some differences with respect to signaling. The aims of this study were to determine whether FPR2 triggers a unique signal that allows direct influx of extracellular calcium without the emptying of intracellular calcium stores, and whether the gelsolin-derived PIP₂-binding peptide, PBP10, selectively inhibits FPR2-mediated transient rise in intracellular Ca²⁺.     

Synthesis and purification of two SP (6-11) analogues with enhanced selectivity for the NK-1 receptor.

Two hexapeptide analogues of Substance P (6-11) have been synthesized. Replacement of Gly9 by proline provides a peptide with tenfold enhanced selectivity for the NK-1 receptor. The corresponding proline-containing glycopeptide incorporating a beta-D-glucopyranosyl residue linked to the side-chain of Glu6 was 100 times more selective than Substance P for the same receptor.     

Differential inhibition of human neutrophil activation by cyclosporins A, D, and H. Cyclosporin H is a potent and effective inhibitor of formyl peptide-induced superoxide formation.

Cyclosporin (Cs)A but not CsH inhibits activation of human lymphocytes. We studied the effects of CsA, CsD, and CsH on human neutrophil activation induced by chemoattractants and by various substances that circumvent receptor stimulation. CsH inhibited superoxide (O2-) formation induced by the chemotactic peptide, FMLP (30 nM), with a half-maximal effect at 40 nM. O2- formation was abolished by CsH at 1 microM. CsH increased the concentration of FMLP causing half-maximal activation of O2- formation from 30 nM to 0.8 microM and substantially reduced the stimulatory effect of FMLP at supra-maximally effective concentrations. The inhibitory effect of CsH on O2- formation was evident immediately after addition to neutrophils. CsH also markedly inhibited the increase in cytosolic Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i), beta-glucuronidase, and lysozyme release and aggregation stimulated by FMLP. CsA and CsD were considerably less effective than CsH to inhibit FMLP-induced O2- formation. CsA and CsD were without effect on exocytosis, rises in [Ca2+]i, and aggregation induced by the chemotactic peptide. Cyclosporines inhibited FMLP-induced O2- formation in an additive manner, indicating that they acted through a mechanism they had in common. Cyclosporines only slightly inhibited O2- formation and lysozyme release induced by C5a. Aggregation and rises in [Ca2+]i stimulated by C5a were not affected by cyclosporines, and they did not inhibit O2- formation and exocytosis induced by platelet-activating factor and leukotriene B4. Cyclosporines partially inhibited O2- formations induced by NaF and gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane. CsA marginally inhibited PMA-induced O2- formation and lysozyme release. CsA, CsD, and CsH did not inhibit arachidonic acid-induced O2- formation and its potentiation by NaF or stable guanine nucleotides in a cell-free system from DMSO-differentiated HL-60 cells. CsH partially inhibited binding of FML [3H]P to formyl peptide receptors in membranes from DMSO- or dibutyryl cAMP-differentiated HL-60 cells. Our data show that: 1) cyclosporines differentially inhibit activation of human neutrophils; and 2) CsH is, indeed, not immunologically inactive but is a potent and effective inhibitor of FMLP-induced O2- formation. 3) CsH interferes with agonist binding to formyl peptide receptors and in addition, cyclosporines may also act at sites distal to chemoattractant receptors.     

Altered chemotactic peptide binding in tobacco smokers' neutrophils

The functions of polymorphonuclear leukocytes from tobacco smokers are altered compared to those from nonsmokers. Since neutrophil chemotaxis and oxidative metabolism are mediated by surface receptors, we studied the association of the chemotactic peptide formyl Met-Leu-Phe with neutrophils from smokers and non-smokers. An apparently single class of binding sites was observed in neutrophils from all the non-smokers, whereas upwardly curving Scatchard plots were obtained for binding to smokers' cells. Thus changes at the receptor level may be responsible for the previously observed alterations in smoker neutrophil function.     

Quantitative and qualitative differences in guanine nucleotide binding protein activation by formyl peptide and leukotriene B4 receptors.

Formyl peptides and leukotriene B4 (LTB4) stimulate disparate neutrophil functional responses and second messenger generation. The hypothesis that differences in receptor-guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (G protein) interaction account for the disparate responses was examined using HL-60 granulocyte plasma membranes. The quantity of receptor-coupled G proteins was determined by guanosine 5'-(gamma-thio)triphosphate (GTP gamma S) equilibrium binding in the presence or absence of f-Met-Leu-Phe and/or LTB4. About one-third of the total GTP gamma S binding sites were coupled to f-Met-Leu-Phe receptors, to LTB4 receptors, and to receptors when both ligands were added simultaneously. The dissociation constant of GTP gamma S-binding sites in the presence of LTB4 was significantly greater than that in the presence of f-Met-Leu-Phe. f-Met-Leu-Phe shifted the GDP dose-inhibition curve for GTP gamma S binding further to the right than did LTB4. The apparent initial rate of GTP hydrolysis and GTP gamma S binding stimulated by f-Met-Leu-Phe was significantly greater than that stimulated by LTB4. There were significantly more formyl peptide receptors than LTB4 receptors, however, formyl peptide and LTB4 receptor density did not differ under GTP gamma S binding assay conditions. The rate of GTP hydrolysis stimulated by LTB4 was not increased in membranes containing twice the LTB4 receptor density. We conclude that formyl peptide receptors stimulate more rapid activation of a common pool of G proteins than LTB4 receptors because of a significantly reduced affinity of formyl peptide receptor-activated G proteins for GDP.