NAP-1/IL-8 induces up-regulation of CR1 receptors in human neutrophil leukocytes

The effect of the neutrophil-activating peptide NAP-1/IL-8 on the expression of complement receptor type 1 (CR1) in human neutrophils was studied. NAP-1/IL-8 enhanced CR1 expression at concentrations between 10(-10) and 10(-8) M. The maximum increase with respect to unstimulated control cells was on average 2.3 fold. The effect was rapid: Half-maximum enhancement was obtained in 4 min and the plateau was reached in 15 min. The chemotactic peptide fMLP, tested for comparison, was effective between 10(-9) and 10(-7) M, showed a similar time course and a somewhat higher maximum effect (2.8 fold increase). The effect of NAP-1/IL-8 was prevented by pretreatment of the cells with B.pertussis toxin and desensitization was observed following restimulation. Stimulus combination experiments suggested that NAP-1/IL-8 mobilizes the same or a similar intracellular pool of CR1 receptors as fMLP or C5a.     

Purification and partial biologic characterization of a human lymphocyte-derived peptide with potent neutrophil-stimulating activity

A novel neutrophil-activating peptide is detected in supernatants from mitogen-stimulated human T lymphocyte preparations. This chemotaxin was purified to apparent homogeneity by sequential Gel G-75 permeation chromatography, wide pore reversed phase (RP-8) HPLC, size exclusion HPLC, and reversed phase (RP-18) HPLC. Additional characterization of this lymphocyte-derived neutrophil-activating peptide (LYNAP) resulted in a single peak upon reversed phase HPLC and size exclusion HPLC. SDS-PAGE under nonreducing conditions revealed a single line at 10 kDa. LYNAP stimulated neutrophil chemotaxis (ED50 of 3 +/- 3 ng/ml), chemokinesis (ED50 of 2 +/- 2 ng/ml), and caused degranulation of cytochalasin B pretreated human neutrophils (ED50 of 20 ng/ml). In purified human monocytes, chemotactic responses to LYNAP at doses up to 100 ng/ml were absent, indicating nonidentity with a lymphocyte-derived monocyte chemotactic factor previously described by other workers. LYNAP shows biochemical and biologic similarities to a recently detected monocyte-derived neutrophil-activating peptide (MONAP). Moreover, desensitization experiments revealed cross-deactivation between LYNAP and MONAP, not, however, between these two chemotactic peptides and other well characterized polymorphonuclear leukocyte chemotaxins, e.g., C5a, FMLP, leukotriene B4, or platelet-activating factor. This finding points toward structure identity or homology of both chemotaxins, MONAP and LYNAP.     

Neutrophil-activating peptide 2 and gro/melanoma growth-stimulatory activity interact with neutrophil-activating peptide 1/interleukin 8 receptors on human neutrophils

Neutrophil-activating peptide 1/interleukin 8 (NAP-1/IL-8), neutrophil-activating peptide 2 (NAP-2), and gro/melanoma growth-stimulatory activity (gro/MGSA) are potent inflammatory cytokines with homologous structure and similar neutrophil-activating properties. Receptors on human neutrophils that interact with these peptides were studied. Analysis of 125I-NAP-1/IL-8 binding at 0-4 degrees C revealed 64,500 +/- 14,000 receptors/cell with an apparent Kd of 0.18 +/- 0.07 nM (mean +/- S.D. of six independent experiments). Unlabeled NAP-1/IL-8, NAP-2, and gro/MGSA competed with 125I-NAP-1/IL-8 for binding to human neutrophils. Competition with increasing concentrations of unlabeled NAP-2 and gro/MGSA resolved two classes of NAP-1/IL-8 binding sites: about 70% of them bound NAP-2 and gro/MGSA with high affinity (Kd: 0.34 +/- 0.2 and 0.14 +/- 0.02), while 30% were of low affinity (Kd: 100 +/- 20 and 130 +/- 10 nM). Different binding sites, however, were not apparent upon competition with unlabeled NAP-1/IL-8, suggesting that both classes of receptors have similar affinities for NAP-1/IL-8. The existence of two receptors was also suggested by ligand cross-linking and cross-desensitization experiments. Two neutrophil membrane proteins with apparent Mr of 66,000-74,000 and 42,000-46,000 became cross-linked to 125I-NAP-1/IL-8, and the labeling was decreased when excess NAP-1/IL-8, NAP-2, or gro/MGSA was present. Stimulation of neutrophils with NAP-1/IL-8 resulted in desensitization toward a subsequent challenge with NAP-2 or gro/MGSA as shown by the rise in cytosolic free calcium. By contrast, following primary stimulation with NAP-2 or gro/MGSA, responses to NAP-1/IL-8 were only moderately attenuated, supporting the existence of NAP-1/IL-8 receptors which bind NAP-2 or gro/MGSA with low affinity. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that NAP-2 and gro/MGSA act upon human neutrophils by directly interacting with two classes of receptors for NAP-1/IL-8.     

A novel cleavage product of beta-thromboglobulin formed in cultures of stimulated mononuclear cells activates human neutrophils

A neutrophil-activating peptide, NAP-2, was found to be produced in cultures of human mononuclear cells in the presence of E. coli lipopolysaccharide or phytohaemagglutinin. NAP-2 induced the release of elastase from cytochalasin B-treated human neutrophils. Amino- and carboxy-terminal sequencing and electrophoretic analysis showed that NAP-2 is a single peptide of 70 amino acids (Mr 7,628, IEP 8.7) corresponding to a carboxyterminal fragment of beta-thromboglobulin. NAP-2 is homologous to NAF/NAP-1. When aligned on the basis of their two first cysteines, 13 out of 20 amino-terminal residues are identical. The overall homology between the two peptides is 46%.     

Leukocyte specificity and binding of human neutrophil attractant/activation protein-1

Neutrophil attractant/activation protein-1 (NAP-1) was previously shown to attract human neutrophils, but not monocytes. The purpose of this study was to determine if NAP-1 interacted with other types of blood leukocytes. In addition to its chemotactic activity for neutrophils, NAP-1 induced chemotactic responses by T lymphocytes and basophils. Chemotactic potency (10(-8) M for an optimal response) was the same for all three cell types. However, NAP-1 caused a chemotactic response in excess of random migration of 7% or 16% of basophils (depending on the medium used) and only 9% of T lymphocytes, in contrast to 30% of neutrophils. This agonist was not chemotactic for partially purified normal human eosinophils. The symmetrical histogram obtained by flow cytometry of neutrophils equilibrated at 0 degree C with fluoresceinated NAP-1 indicates that all neutrophils bound the ligand. A dose-response curve plateau, and inhibition of binding of NAP-1-FITC by unlabeled ligand are evidence for saturable binding to receptors, estimated to be 7000 per cell. Our results suggest that, for induction of an acute inflammatory response, the quantitatively significant action of NAP-1 is on neutrophils.     

Purification and partial biochemical characterization of a human monocyte-derived, neutrophil-activating peptide that lacks interleukin 1 activity

A novel monocyte-derived neutrophil-activating peptide (MONAP) produced by lipopolysaccharide- and phorbol myristate acetate-stimulated human peripheral blood monocytes was purified by sequential ion exchange-high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), size exclusion HPLC, and reversed phase HPLC. Biologic activities of the purified cytokine were monitored by either an enzyme release assay or a chemotaxis assay, using peripheral human neutrophils. Purified MONAP was found to be homogeneous, giving a single peak on size-exclusion HPLC, reversed-phase HPLC, as well as a single 10-kDa band on silver-stained polyacrylamide gels. Purified MONAP stimulate human neutrophil chemotaxis at an estimated molarity of 5 x 10(-11) M. Half-maximal enzyme release of cytochalasin B pretreated neutrophils occurred at 2 to 3 x 10(-10) M, whereas superoxide anion production elicited by various concentrations of MONAP was found to be low. Isolated human peripheral monocytes, as well as human eosinophils, showed no chemotactic response to MONAP, indicating neutrophil specificity. MONAP activity was separated from thymocyte-stimulating activity by reversed-phase HPLC, indicating nonidentity with interleukin (IL)-1. This was further supported by heat resistance of MONAP, which is in contrast to the heat sensitivity of IL-1. In addition, IL-1 obtained as a by-product during isolation of MONAP did not stimulate human neutrophil chemotaxis.     

Differential effects of neutrophil-activating peptide 1/IL-8 and its homologues on leukocyte adhesion and phagocytosis.

Several structural homologues of the chemotactic peptide neutrophil-activating peptide 1/IL-8 (NAP-1/IL-8) were tested for their ability to influence the expression and function of adhesion-promoting receptors on human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN). NAP-2, melanoma growth stimulatory activity, and two forms of NAP-1/IL-8 (ser-NAP-1/IL-8 and ala-NAP-1/IL-8, consisting of 72 and 77 amino acids, respectively), each caused an increase in the expression of CD11b/CD18 (CR3) and CR1, which was accompanied by a decrease in the expression of leukocyte adhesion molecule-1 (LAM-1, LECAM-1). The binding activity of CD11b/CD18 was also enhanced 3- to 10-fold by these peptides, but enhanced function was transient: binding of erythrocytes coated with C3bi reached a maximum by 30 min and declined thereafter. Ser-NAP-1/IL-8, ala-NAP-1/IL-8, NAP-2, and melanoma growth stimulatory activity also caused a two- to threefold enhancement of the phagocytosis of IgG-coated erythrocytes (EIgG) by PMN without causing a large increase in the expression of Fc gamma receptors. Enhanced phagocytosis of EIgG appeared to be mediated through CD11b/CD18, because F(ab')2 fragments of an antibody directed against CD18 inhibited NAP-1/IL-8-stimulated ingestion of EIgG. The four active peptides caused a rapid, transient increase in the amount of F-actin within PMN, indicating that they are capable of influencing the structure of the microfilamentous cytoskeleton, which participates in phagocytosis. Two other NAP-1/IL-8-related peptides, platelet factor 4 and connective tissue-activating peptide III, were without effect on expression of CD11b/CD18, CR1, and LAM-1, binding activity of CD11b/CD18, or Fc-mediated phagocytosis, and increased actin polymerization only slightly. Our observations indicate that several members of the NAP-1/IL-8 family of peptides were capable of promoting integrin-mediated adhesion and Fc-mediated phagocytosis, processes important in the recruitment of PMN to sites of inflammation and antimicrobial responses of PMN.     

直组人嗜中性白细胞活化蛋白-1/白细胞介素-8的纯化与鉴定

本文利用SDS-PAGE及蛋白质电泳印迹技术,从带有相应表达质粒的重组大肠杆菌裂解液中,将所表达的重组人嗜中性白细胞活化蛋白-1/白细胞介素-8(NAP-1/IL-8)转移至聚偏二氟乙烯膜上,直接进行N-末端15个氨基酸的序列分析,从而确证该目标蛋白得到高效表达和正确加工。随后采用Bio-Gel P30凝胶过滤层析和Mono-S阳离子交换层析对重组人NAP-1/IL-8进行了分离纯化,纯化产品达到SDS-PAGE纯。利用琼脂糖平板法测定了纯化产品的嗜中性白细胞趋化活性,推算其比活为2.8×10~5U/mg蛋白。又利用SDS-PAGE测出重组NAP-1/IL-8的分子量约为8.5kD,但根据凝胶过滤层析的洗脱时间推定,在溶液中确实存在分子量稍大于14.4kD的NAP-1/IL-8二聚体。     

Production, purification, and characterization of human recombinant IL-8 from the eucaryotic vector expression system baculovirus.

The cDNA for the human chemotactic interleukin, IL-8, was subcloned from a bacterial source into the eucaryotic vector expression system baculovirus. Recombinant human IL-8 (rhIL-8) was synthesized and secreted from Sf9 cells derived from Spodoptera frugiperda following infection of a recombinant virus harboring the full-length IL-8 structural gene. Infected Sf9 cells produced rhIL-8 in a range from 0.5 to 2.0 mg of rhIL-8/liter of postinfection cell culture media. The recombinant interleukin was purified (greater than 600-fold) to homogeneity using preparative HPLC. rhIL-8 retained all of the physical, immunological, and biochemical properties observed for the natural product, monocyte-derived IL-8. rhIL-8 was assessed for biological efficacy by three criteria: (a) ability to induce chemotaxis in human neutrophils, (b) ability to induce oxygen burst metabolism, and (c) ability to be recognized by purified rabbit antibody generated against monocyte-derived IL-8. Antibody generated against monocyte-derived IL-8 recognized rhIL-8 isolated during all stages of the purification protocol. rhIL-8 was strongly chemotactic for human neutrophils and exhibited a chemotactic index comparable to that reported for other strong chemotactic peptides. rhIL-8 was identified following sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis as a single silver-stained band having an estimated molecular weight of 9.2 kDa and displayed amino acid residue molar abundance homology predicted for the mature form of the interleukin. Baculovirus vector expression coupled to preparative HPLC proved to be a very efficient method for large-scale recombinant interleukin production.     

Chemotactic potency of recombinant human neutrophil attractant/activation protein-1 (interleukin-8) for polymorphonuclear leukocytes of different species

In order to establish the species cross-reactivity of the human neutrophil attractant/activation protein-1 (interleukin-8, NAP-1/IL-8) and find which experimental species are responsive to the human cytokine, blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PNMLs) were isolated from chicken, dog, goat, guinea-pig, monkey, mouse, pig, rabbit, and rat and their in vitro migration in response to this cytokine was investigated. PMNLs from all of the tested species migrated in response to recombinant human NAP-1/IL-8 (rhNAP-1/IL-8). The potency of rhNAP-1/IL-8 for the PMNLs of different species varied and was considerably lower than its potency for human cells. The morphological study combined with the leukocyte enumeration in the intradermal rhNAP-1/IL-8 injection sites established an in vivo proinflammatory potency of rhNAP-1/IL-8 for rabbit and rat that was comparable to the observed in vitro chemotactic potency of rhNAP-1/IL-8 for neutrophils of these species.     

Secretion of novel and homologous neutrophil-activating peptides by LPS-stimulated human endothelial cells

Human umbilical vein endothelial cells in culture produce two chemotactic polypeptides when stimulated with LPS. The chemotactic factors could be purified to apparent homogeneity by HPLC techniques and were identified as 7.5-kDa and 15-kDa polypeptides by SDS-PAGE under nonreducing conditions. Both factors are potent chemotaxins for human neutrophils demonstrating half-maximal chemotaxis at 2 ng/ml and g ng/ml, respectively. In addition both peptides elicited release of azurophilic granule constituents when neutrophils were pretreated with cytochalasin B. Cross-desensitization experiments by using human neutrophils revealed cross-reactivities between both chemotaxins, not, however, with C5a or FMLP, indicating that both endothelial cell-derived neutrophil activating peptides (ENAP) are homologous. In addition, the 7.5-kDa factor (beta-ENAP) proved to be the quantitatively dominating and more potent chemotaxin as compared to the 15 kDa factor (alpha-ENAP). beta-ENAP shows biochemical and biologic similarities to monocyte- and lymphocyte-derived neutrophil-activating peptides MONAP and LYNAP, which recently were purified and sequenced.     

Structure and Bioactivity of Recombinant Human CTAP-III and NAP-2

Connective tissue-activating peptide III (CTAP-III) and neutrophil-activating peptide-2 (NAP-2) are both derived from a common precursor, platelet basic protein (PBP), which is stored in the -granules of platelets and released upon their activation. CTAP-III is an 85-residue peptide which is converted to NAP-2 by enzymic removal of the 15 amino-terminal residues. Both peptides play a role in the early stages of wound healing and inflammation through different activities. We have cloned the cDNA for PBP and expressed constructs coding for the CTAP-III and NAP-2 polypeptides in Escherichia coli. We have purified and renatured these recombinant proteins. The integrity of the recombinant proteins has been ascertained by in vitro bioassays. CTAP-III causes 51% histamine release from the basophilic cell lin KU812 at 10^–7 M, whereas NAP-2 only causes 28% release at the same concentration. In assays on human neutrophils, NAP-2 had an EC ₅₀ of 2×10^–8 M in chemotaxis, an EC ₅₀ of 3×10^–8 M for shape change, and could displace IL-8 from neutrophils with a K _d of 7.5×10^–9 M. CTAP-III had no activity in these assays. The disulfide bonds have been identified by peptide mapping and sequence analysis, and are in the positions predicted by homology to interleukin-8 and platelet factor 4. Measurement of the molecular mass at physiologic concentrations by gel permeation chromatography has shown that CTAP-III forms predominantly tetramers and dimers, whereas NAP-2 is only dimetric. SDS/PAGE analysis of samples cross-linked with disuccinimidyl suberate support these topologies. We postulate a mechanism for tetramer formation based on the interaction of the amino-terminal extension in CTAP-III involving a helix–helix interaction that could stabilize the association of two CTAP-III dimers.     

Neutrophil attractant/activation protein-1 and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 in rabbit. cDNA cloning and their expression in spleen cells

Rabbit neutrophil attractant/activation protein-1 (NAP-1) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) were investigated. Rabbit spleen cells stimulated with 5 micrograms/ml of Con A produced both neutrophil and monocyte chemotactic activity. Physicochemical characteristics of those activities obtained by HPLC gel filtration and HPLC chromatofocusing were very similar to those of human NAP-1 and MCP-1, suggesting that rabbit spleen cells produce NAP-1 and MCP-1 after Con A stimulation. A cDNA library was constructed from mRNA purified from Con A-stimulated rabbit spleen cells and screened with oligonucleotide probes. By two rounds of screening, NAP-1 and MCP-1 cDNA were cloned. NAP-1 cDNA comprises 1500 bp with an open reading frame that encodes for a 101-amino acid protein highly similar to human NAP-1. MCP-1 cDNA comprises 607 bp with an open reading frame that encodes for a 124-amino acid protein highly similar to human MCP-1. Expression of NAP-1 and MCP-1 mRNA by rabbit spleen cells was studied. Both Con A- and LPS-stimulated spleen cells expressed NAP-1 and MCP-1 mRNA, but the kinetics of expression were different. Con A rapidly induced high NAP-1 and MCP-1 mRNA expression. LPS also rapidly induced NAP-1 mRNA expression, but high MCP-1 mRNA expression was not observed until 15 h after stimulation. Immunoprecipitation of metabolically labeled NAP-1 and MCP-1 with anti-human NAP-1 or MCP-1 polyclonal antibodies was attempted. Immunoprecipitated rabbit NAP-1 with a molecular mass of about 7 kDa was detected by SDS-PAGE and radioautography, but MCP-1 was not. Cloned rabbit NAP-1 and MCP-1 will give us opportunities to study the role of NAP-1 and MCP-1 in vivo.     

Chemical synthesis, purification, and characterization of two inflammatory proteins, neutrophil activating peptide 1 (interleukin-8) and neutrophil activating peptide

Two recently identified pro-inflammatory proteins, namely, neutrophil activating peptide 1 (NAP-1) [also termed interleukin-8 (IL-8)] and NAP-2, were chemically synthesized, purified, and characterized. The fully protected NAP-1/IL-8 (72 residues) and NAP-2 (70 residues) peptide chains were assembled by automated solid-phase methods with average stepwise yields of 99.5 and 99.3%, resulting in overall chain assembly yields of 70 and 62%, respectively. Deprotection resulted in crude products, which were allowed to fold by air oxidation, and were purified by two cycles of reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography, yielding 27 mg of NAP-1/IL-8 and 22 mg of NAP-2. Purity was established by reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography and isoelectric focusing, and the primary structures of the purified products were verified by using mass spectrometry and Edman sequencing methods. Synthetic and recombinant NAP-1/IL-8 were equally active on human neutrophil granulocytes as determined by measuring the induction of cytosolic free calcium, elastase release, and chemotaxis. Synthetic NAP-2 was equivalent to purified natural NAP-2 in the elastase release and calcium mobilization assays, but it was consistently less potent (3-5-fold) as a stimulus of chemotaxis, perhaps indicative of additional chemotactic components in the natural preparation. The results indicate that by chemical synthesis these cytokines can be obtained in purity and quantities suitable for further structural analysis, as well as functional studies both in vivo and in vitro.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Activation of human basophils through the IL-8 receptor.

IL-8 and its structural analogs derived from blood platelets have been proposed as stimuli of IgE-independent basophil activation. In order to clarify the mechanism of action of these peptides, we examined the effects of pure IL-8, connective tissue-activating peptide III (CTAP-III), neutrophil-activating peptide 2 (NAP-2), and platelet factor 4 (PF-4) on blood basophils with and without pretreatment by IL-3, which modulates mediator release. After pretreatment with IL-3, significant histamine release was observed with 10(-8) M and 10(-7) M IL-8 and 10(-7) M NAP-2, but not with the other peptides. At higher concentrations (10(-6) M), however, all IL-8 analogs, as well as the unrelated cationic peptides poly-D-lysine, histone VS, and lysozyme, induced histamine release to variable degrees. Binding and competition studies with [125I]IL-8 revealed specific IL-8R on basophils from a patient with chronic myelogenous leukemia and normal individuals. From 3500 to 9600 receptors with a mean Kd value of 0.15 nM were found on average per chronic myelogenous leukemia and normal basophil, respectively. NAP-2 weakly competed for IL-8 binding. IL-8 and, to a lesser extent, NAP-2 led to a transient rise of cytosolic free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i), which was independent of a preexposure to IL-3. IL-8 prevented the [Ca2+]i rise induced by NAP-2, but did not influence [Ca2+]i responses to other agonists, e.g. C5a, C3a, or platelet-activating factor. IL-8 induced [Ca2+]i changes and histamine release in IL-3-primed basophils were pertussis toxin sensitive. CTAP-III or PF-4 did not compete for IL-8 binding, did not induce [Ca2+]i changes, and did not influence the [Ca2+]i response to IL-8 and NAP-2. This study shows that IL-8 and NAP-2 activate human basophils by a receptor-mediated mechanism similar to that operating in neutrophils. At high concentrations histamine release can also be induced by cationic peptides by a mechanism that does not involve the IL-8R, and probably depends on cationic interactions.     

Receptor-operated activation of polymorphonuclear leukocytes: different effects of NAP-1/IL-8 and fMet-Leu-Phe or C5a.

We examined the production of PAF and LTB4 by PMN in response to NAP1/IL-8 alone, or after preincubation with GM-CSF, which has been shown to enhance PMN responsiveness and to prime PMN for production of those bioactive lipids. NAP-1/IL-8 does not induce the synthesis of PAF and LTB4 from endogenous phospholipid precursors, even after preincubation with GM-CSF. In addition and again in contrast to fMLP and C5a, NAP-1/IL-8 fails to induce an enhanced oxidative burst in GM-CSF primed PMN. Exogenously added PAF or LTB4 can mimic the priming effect of GM-CSF for an enhanced oxidative burst in response to all examined chemotactic peptides including NAP1/IL-8. Our data reveal a possible autocrine role of PAF and LTB4 in the enhanced responsiveness of GM-CSF primed PMN towards fMLP or C5a, but not NAP-1/IL-8.     

Binding of neutrophil attractant/activation protein-1 (interleukin 8) to resident dermal cells.

Putative tissue receptors for leukocyte attractants, including neutrophil attractant/activation protein-1 (interleukin 8, NAP-1/IL-8), have been implicated in the regulation of neutrophil emigration into the tissues. An in-situ binding assay and an ex-vivo autoradiographic approach were used to investigate the binding of radiolabeled NAP-1/IL-8 to human and animal skin. These methods revealed the presence of saturable NAP-1/IL-8-binding sites on the endothelial cells of venules and veins but not arteries or capillaries of the dermis. In addition, the binding of NAP-1/IL-8 to dermal macrophages and perivascular mast cells was observed. We suggest that the NAP-1/IL-8-binding sites described here could be involved in the regulation of NAP-1/IL-8-induced neutrophil emigration.     

Recombinant tumor necrosis factor-alpha potentiates neutrophil degranulation in response to host defense cytokines neutrophil-activating peptide 2 and IL-8 by modulating intracellular cyclic AMP levels.

The neutrophil-activating peptide 2 (NAP-2) and IL-8 are closely related in structure and function. In order to further determine their potential biologic roles in inflammation, we studied their interaction with TNF-alpha-primed human polymorphonuclear neutrophil granulocytes at the levels of effector functions and signal transduction. After short term priming (5 min) by TNF-alpha, suspended cytochalasin B-treated PMN responded to NAP-2 or rIL-8 by substantial augmentation of the degranulation response. After priming with 3 ng/ml TNF-alpha marker release from both azurophilic and specific granules was near maximum. NAP-2 and rIL-8 cooperated with TNF-alpha in very similar ways, as indicated by the almost identical increases in release rates that were induced by equipotent doses of either secondary stimulus. At the signal transduction level, pharmacologic elevation of intracellular cAMP led to the inhibition of NAP-2- or rIL-8-induced degranulation in primed and unprimed PMN, indicating a role for this second messenger as a negative feedback signal. Direct measurement of intracellular cAMP revealed that TNF-alpha by itself did not affect its levels. Instead, TNF-alpha reduced both the scale as well as the duration of the cAMP burst generated in response to secondary stimuli NAP-2 or rIL-8. Thus, there is evidence that TNF-alpha priming of neutrophils for enhanced NAP-2- or rIL-8-promoted degranulation involves the antagonistic down-modulation of stimulus-induced rises in cAMP.