Activation of NADPH oxidase and phospholipase D in permeabilized human neutrophils. Correlation between oxidase activation and phosphatidic acid production.

A major function of human neutrophils (PMN) during inflammation is formation of oxygen radicals through activation of the respiratory burst enzyme, NADPH oxidase. Stimulus-induced production of both phosphatidic acid (PA) and diglyceride (DG) has been suggested to mediate oxidase activity; however, transductional mechanisms and cofactor requirements necessary for activation are poorly defined. We have utilized PMN permeabilized with Staphylococcus aureus alpha-toxin to elucidate the signal pathway involved in eliciting oxidase activity and to investigate whether PA or DG act as second messengers. PMN were permeabilized in cytoplasmic buffer supplemented with ATP and EGTA for 15 min before addition of NADPH and various cofactors. Oxidase activation was assessed by superoxide dismutase inhibitable reduction of ferricytochrome C; PA and DG levels were measured by radiolabeled product formation or by metabolite mass formation. Both superoxide (O2-) and PA formation were initiated by 10 microM GTP gamma S; addition of cytosolic levels of calcium ions (Ca2+, 120 nM) enhanced O2- and PA formation 1.5-2 fold. DG levels showed little change during these treatments. PA formation preceded O2- production and varying GTP gamma S levels had parallel effects on O2- and PA formation. However, while PA formation and oxidase activation occurred in tandem at Ca2+ levels of < 1 microM, higher calcium enhanced PA formation but inhibited O2- production. Removal of ATP completely blocked O2- production but had little effect on PA formation; in contrast, if ATP was replaced with ATP gamma S, parallel production of PA and O2- occurred in the absence of other cofactors. Finally, while inhibition of PA production by ethanol pretreatment led to inhibition of O2- formation in PMN treated with GTP gamma S alone, in cells stimulated with a combination of GTP gamma S and Ca2+, ethanol continued to inhibit PA formation but had no effect on O2- production. Our results do not support a role for DG in the signal transduction path leading to oxidase activation and, while we show a close correlation between oxidase activation and PA production under many physiologic conditions, we also demonstrate that PA is not sufficient to induce oxidase activation and O2- formation can occur when PA production is inhibited.     

Tumor necrosis factor provokes superoxide anion generation from neutrophils

We report that tumor necrosis factor (TNF) provokes superoxide anion generation from human neutrophils. Superoxide anion generation was provoked at TNF concentration of 1 X 10(-11) M and maximal generation was attained at TNF concentration of 1 X 10(-9) M. We also show that movements of intracellular calcium may mediate the TNF-stimulated superoxide anion generation because 8-(diethylamino) octyl 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate hydrochloride--but not extracellular EGTA--inhibited the generation of superoxide anion. These results suggest that TNF may mediate some mechanisms of host defense by provoking superoxide anion generation from neutrophils.     

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha priming of phospholipase A2 activation in human neutrophils. An alternative mechanism of priming.

The cytokine, TNF-alpha, interacts with human neutrophils (PMN) via specific membrane receptors and primes leukotriene B4 (LTB4) production in PMN for subsequent stimulation by calcium ionophores. We have further examined the effects of TNF-alpha on arachidonic acid (AA) release, LTB4 production, and platelet-activating factor (PAF) formation in PMN by prelabeling cells with either [3H]AA or [3H]lyso-PAF, priming with human rTNF-alpha, and then stimulating with the chemotactic peptide, FMLP. TNF-alpha, alone, had little effect; minimal AA release, LTB4 or PAF production occurred after PMN were incubated with 0 to 1000 U/ml TNF-alpha. However, when PMN were first preincubated with 100 U/ml TNF-alpha for 30 min and subsequently challenged with 1 microM FMLP, both [3H] AA release and LTB4 production were elevated two- to threefold over control values. Measurement of AA mass by gas chromatography and LTB4 production by RIA confirmed the radiolabeled results. TNF-alpha priming also increased PAF formation after FMLP stimulation. These results demonstrate that TNF-alpha priming before stimulation with a physiologic agonist can enhance activation of phospholipase A2 (PLA2) resulting in increased AA release and can facilitate the activities of 5-lipoxygenase (LTB4 production) and acetyltransferase (PAF formation). Reports in the literature have hypothesized that the priming mechanism involves either production of PLA2 metabolites, increased diglyceride (DG) levels, or enhanced cytosolic calcium levels induced by the priming agent. We investigated these possibilities in TNF-alpha priming of PMN and report that TNF-alpha had no direct effect on PLA2 activation or metabolite formation. Treatment of PMN with TNF-alpha did not induce DG formation and, in the absence of cytochalasin B, no increased DG production (measured by both radiolabel techniques and mass determinations) occurred after TNF-alpha priming followed by FMLP stimulation. TNF-alpha also had no effect on basal cytosolic calcium and did not enhance intracellular calcium levels after FMLP stimulation. These results suggest that an alternative, as yet undefined, mechanism is active in TNF-alpha priming of human PMN.     

Lysophosphatidic acid increases phosphatidic acid formation, phospholipase D activity and degranulation by human neutrophils

I-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphate, a lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), in serum is a biologically active lipid and has multiple functions depending on the cell types. Several studies have shown that LPA stimulates phospholipase D (PLD) activity in fibroblasts and prostate cancer cells in culture. PLD plays a central role in regulating neutrophil functions. One of the functions of the lipid product, phosphatidic acid (PA), of PLD action in neutrophils is to promote degranulation. In the present study, we examined the effect of LPA on PLD activity and degranulation by human neutrophils. The results show that exogenous LPA increased PA formation, PLD activity and degranulation by human neutrophils in a time and concentration dependent manner. These findings suggest that LPA released from activated platelets during blood clotting may participate in bacterial killing and wound healing process. On the other hand, augmented LPA production might be involved in inflammation, causing damage of the host tissues.     

Propionic acid stimulates superoxide generation in human neutrophils

Short-chain carboxylic acids are the metabolic by-products of pathogenic anaerobic bacteria and are found at sites of infection in millimolar quantities. We previously reported that propionic acid, one of the short-chain carboxylic acids, induces an increase in intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) in human neutrophils. Here we investigate the effect of propionic acid on superoxide generation in human neutrophils. Propionic acid (10 mm) induced inositol 1,4, 5-trisphosphate (IP3) formation and a rapidly transient increase in [Ca2+]i, but not superoxide generation, whereas 1 microm formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP), a widely used neutrophil-stimulating bacterial peptide, stimulated not only IP3 formation and Ca2+ mobilization but also superoxide generation. The IP3 level induced by propionic acid was slightly lower than that induced by fMLP. The transient increase in [Ca2+]i induced by propionic acid immediately returned to the basal level, whereas a sustained increase in [Ca2+]i, which was higher than the basal level, following a transient increase in [Ca2+]i was induced by fMLP. The peak level induced by propionic acid was lower than that with fMLP. In the absence of extracellular Ca2+, thapsigargin, a potent inhibitor of endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase, induced an increase in [Ca2+]i even after propionic acid stimulation, but not after fMLP. The Ca2+ ionophore A23187 and thapsigargin induced superoxide generation by themselves. Propionic acid enhanced the superoxide generating effect of A23187 and thapsigargin. These results suggest that Ca2+ mobilization induced by propionic acid is much weaker than that with fMLP, and propionic acid is able to generate superoxide in the presence of a Ca2+ ionophore and a Ca2+ influx activator.     

Novel priming compounds of cystathionine metabolites on superoxide generation in human neutrophils

Human peripheral blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes were preincubated with cystathionine and cystathionine metabolites found in the urine of patients with cystathioninuria. Among the cystathionine metabolites, cystathionine ketimine and N-acetyl-S-(3-oxo-3-carboxy-n-propyl) cysteine (NAc-OCPC) significantly enhanced the N-formylmethionylleucylphenylalanine (fMLP)-induced superoxide generation, but cystathionine, NAc-cystathionine, and cyclothionine did not enhance the superoxide generation. Cystathionine ketimine and NAc-OCPC also enhanced superoxide generation induced by opsonized zymosan (OZ) but not that induced by arachidonic acid (AA) and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). Superoxide generation induced by cystathionine ketimine and NAc-OCPC was inhibited by genistein, an inhibitor of tyrosine kinase, and was enhanced by 1-(5-isoquinoline sulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine (H-7), an inhibitor of protein kinase C. Cystathionine ketimine and NAc-OCPC markedly also increased phosphorylation of 45-kDa protein in human neutrophils and the phosphorylation depended on the concentrations of cystathionine ketimine and NAc-OCPC. The phosphorylation of 45-kDa protein induced by cystathionine ketimine and NAc-OCPC was inhibited by genistein and herbimycin A, inhibitors of tyrosine kinase, but was not inhibited by H-7 and staurosporine, inhibitors of protein kinase C. Cystathionine metabolites and l-cystathionine sulfoxides were separated into two diastereoisomers, CS-I and CS-II. CS-I enhanced the superoxide generation induced by AA and PMA but not that induced by fMLP and OZ. In contrast, CS-II enhanced the superoxide generation induced by fMLP and OZ, but not that induced by AA and PMA.     

Changes in phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidic acid in stimulated human neutrophils. Relationship to calcium mobilization, aggregation and superoxide radical generation

Human neutrophils aggregate and release mediators of inflammation, such as active oxygen species and lysosomal enzymes, when exposed to the chemoattractant, fMet-Leu-Phe, or the tumor promotor, phorbol myristate acetate. In order to 'stage' events which may lead to such neutrophil responses, we determined the temporal relationship between stimulus-induced changes in the endogenous phospholipids phosphatidylinositol (PI) and phosphatidic acid, the mobilization of calcium, and the onset of aggregation and generation of superoxide anion during the initial 2 min of cell activation. Within 5 s after addition of fMet-Leu-Phe (10(-7) M) neutrophils accumulated phosphatidic acid and the levels of PI decreased, as determined by two-dimensional thin-layer chromatography and phosphorus determinations. By 5 s, phosphatidic acid levels rose approximately 3.5-fold and at 15 s the loss of PI exceeded the quantity of phosphatidic acid generated. In response to phorbol myristate acetate (1 microgram/ml), however, changes in PI or phosphatidic acid were not observed until after 60 s. Accumulation of phosphatidic acid in fMet-Leu-Phe-stimulated cells was not inhibited by chelation of extracellular calcium. Neutrophils exposed to either fMet-Leu-Phe or phorbol myristate acetate also showed rapid decrements in fluorescence of cell-associated chlorotetracycline (used as an indirect probe of mobilization of intracellular membrane-associated calcium) and took up 45Ca2+ from the extracellular medium (under 60 s). The results indicate that changes in calcium mobilization, together with the alterations in phospholipid metabolism (under 5 s) anteceded aggregation and the generation of O2-. (10-15 s) induced by fMet-Leu-Phe. In contrast, when neutrophils were exposed to phorbol myristate acetate, changes in PI and phosphatidic acid (over 60 s) were observed after the mobilization of calcium (under 5 s) and the onset of O2-. generation and aggregation (30-35 s).     

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha-mediated signal transduction in human neutrophils: involvement of sphingomyelin metabolites in the priming effect of TNF-alpha on the fMLP-stimulated superoxide production

We investigated the mechanism underlying the priming effect of TNF-alpha on fMLP-stimulated superoxide production in human neutrophils. TNF-alpha enhanced fMLP-stimulated superoxide production in a concentration-dependent manner. TNF-alpha also induced sphingomyelin (SM) hydrolysis and increased the formation of its metabolite, sphingosine-1-phosphate (SP-1-P). The treatment of neutrophils with sphingomyelinase also resulted in a similar priming effect. C2 ceramide produced a concentration-dependent inhibition of fMLP-stimulated superoxide production within the concentration range of 1-30 microM. Sphingosine had a dual effect on fMLP-stimulated superoxide generation, exhibiting a priming effect at lower concentrations (0.2-1 microM), but an inhibitory effect at higher concentrations (1-30 microM). SP-1-P (1-30 microM), showed a concentration-dependent enhancement of fMLP stimulated superoxide production. Furthermore, after treating neutrophils with DL-threo-dihydro-sphingosine, a competitive inhibitor of sphingosine kinase, TNF-alpha produced a similar dual effect as observed with sphingosine. These results strongly suggest that SM hydrolysis plays a key role in the intracellular signal transduction mediating the TNF-alpha-mediated priming effect.     

Tumor necrosis factor alpha induction in human monocytes

The present study was undertaken to assess the presence of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha mRNA and protein in circulating human blood monocytes and to study the TNF-alpha gene expression in human monocytes isolated by continuous Percoll gradient fractionation. The technique of RNA isolation directly from the blood samples was used to study TNF-alpha mRNA expression in circulating human blood leukocytes. It was shown that human blood leukocytes of healthy donors contained no presynthesized pool of TNF-alpha mRNA as well as no TNF-alpha protein. It was found that early pretreatment with cycloheximide interferes with TNF-alpha mRNA induction by Staphylococcus aureus.     

Phospholipase D and phosphatidic acid-mediated generation of superoxide in Arabidopsis

Phospholipase D (PLD), which hydrolyzes phospholipids into free head groups and phosphatidic acid (PA), may regulate cellular processes through the production of lipid and lipid-derived messengers. We have genetically abrogated PLD alpha, the most prevalent isoform of PLD in plants, and the depletion of PLD alpha in Arabidopsis decreased the levels of PA and superoxide production in Arabidopsis leaf extracts. Addition of PA promoted the synthesis of superoxide in the PLD alpha-depleted plants, as measured by chemiluminescence and superoxide dismutase-inhibitable, NADPH-dependent reduction of cytochrome c and nitroblue tetrazolium. The PA-enhanced generation of superoxide was associated mainly with microsomal membranes. Among various lipids tested, PA was the most effective stimulator with the optimal concentrations between 100 and 200 microM. The PA-promoted production of superoxide was observed also in leaves directly infiltrated with PA. The added PA was more effective in stimulating superoxide generation in the PLD alpha-depleted leaves than in the PLD alpha-containing, wild-type leaves, suggesting that PA produced in the cell was more effective than added PA in promoting superoxide production. These data indicate that PLD plays a role in mediating superoxide production in plants through the generation of PA as a lipid messenger.     

Activation of NADPH-dependent superoxide production in plasma membrane extracts of pig neutrophils by phosphatidic acid

Phosphatidic acid (PA), a molecule that is rapidly produced by the stimulated turnover of phospholipids in a variety of cells including blood neutrophils, elicited NADPH-dependent superoxide anion (O2-) production in detergent extracts from membranes of resting pig neutrophils. The stimulatory effect of PA was independent of cytosolic factors, differing from arachidonic acid and sodium dodecyl sulfate which, on the contrary, absolutely required the presence of cytosol to elicit the same result. The O2(-)-forming activity of the detergent extract activable by PA, as that by sodium dodecyl sulfate and arachidonic acid plus cytosol, was found in the chromatographic fractions containing cytochrome b558 and presented a chromatographic profile identical to that of the activated NADPH oxidase, which was obtained from neutrophils prestimulated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. The PA-induced NADPH-dependent O2(-)-forming activity showed kinetic properties and sensitivity to the inhibitors similar to the classical ones of the activated neutrophil NADPH oxidase. The data suggest that, in this cell-free system, PA may stimulate O2- formation by direct interaction with latent NADPH oxidase of neutrophils or with some of its regulatory components.     

Changes in phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidic acid in stimulated human neutrophils: Relationship to calcium mobilization,aggregation and superoxide radical generation

Human neutrophils aggregate and release mediators of inflammation, such as active oxygen species and lysosomal enzymes, when exposed to the chemoattractant, fMet-Leu-Phe, or the tumor promotor, phorbol myristate acetate. In order to ‘stage’ events which may lead to such neutrophil responses, we determined the temporal relationship between stimulus-induced changes in the endogenous phospholipids phosphatidylinositol (PI) and phosphatidic acid, the mobilization of calcium, and the onset of aggregation and generation of superoxide anion during the initial 2 min of cell activation. Within 5 s after addition of fMet-Leu-Phe (10^?7 M) neutrophils accumulated phosphatidic acid and the levels of PI decreased, as determined by two-dimensional thin-layer chromatography and phosphorus determinations. By 5 s, phosphatidic acid levels rose approximately 3.5-fold and at 15 s the loss of PI exceeded the quantity of phosphatidic acid generated. In response to phorbol myristate acetate (1 μg/ml), however, changes in PI or phosphatidic acid were not observed until after 60 s. Accumulation of phosphatidic acid in fMet-Leu-Phe-stimulated cells was not inhibited by chelation of extracellular calcium. Neutrophils exposed to either fMet-Leu-Phe or phorbol myristate acetate also showed rapid decrements in fluorescence of cell-associated chlorotetracycline (used as an indirect probe of mobilization of intracellular membrane-associated calcium) and took up ⁴⁵Ca²⁺ from the extracellular medium (under 60 s). The results indicate that changes in calcium mobilization, together with the alterations in phospholipid metabolism (under 5 s) anteceded aggregation and the generation of O^?₂ (10–15 s) induced by fMet-Leu-Phe. In contrast, when neutrophils were exposed to phorbol myristate acetate, changes in PI and phosphatidic acid (over 60 s) were observed after the mobilization of calcium (under 5 s) and the onset of O^?₂ generation and aggregation (30–35 s).     

Roles of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and phospholipase D in temporal activation of superoxide production in FMLP-stimulated human neutrophils

To determine the temporal roles of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase) and phospholipase D (PLD) during human neutrophil activation stimulated by a chemotactic peptide, we examined the kinetics of these enzymes and related them to a neutrophil function (superoxide production). Both wortmannin and 2-(4-morpholinyl)-8-phenyl-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one (LY294002), potent and specific inhibitors of PI3-kinase, inhibit PI3-kinase activity in human neutrophils and significantly inhibit superoxide production from the early phase. Ethanol has no effect on PI3-kinase and markedly inhibits superoxide production at the late phase. Although these agents are inhibitory to different degrees, when neutrophils are simultaneously treated with ethanol and PI3-kinase inhibitors, superoxide is not produced. These results suggest that PI3-kinase and PLD play a pivotal role in the signal transduction pathway of the chemo-attractant-receptor involved neutrophil activation. These enzymes produce second messengers which are required for subsequent superoxide production in human neutrophils. NADPH oxidase is activated in a PI3-kinase-dependent manner at the early phase, and PLD activity follows it and is related to superoxide production at the late phase in human neutrophils by stimulation with FMLP.     

Tumor necrosis factor alpha stimulates arachidonic acid metabolism in human osteoblastic osteosarcomal cells

The effects of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) on arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism were investigated by prelabeling the human osteoblastic osteosarcoma cell line, G292, with [³H]AA. TNF-α differentially stimulates cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways of AA metabolism in a dose response manner in the cells. The highest concentration of TNF-α (10⁻⁸ M) significantly increased the cyclooxygenase pathway, with prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) being a major product. However, at the lowest concentration (10⁻¹⁰ M) of TNF-α, 15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (HETE) production was significantly increased, with no significant effects on the other identifiable products. When the concentration of TNF-α was increased to 10⁻⁹ M leukotriene B₄ (LTB₄), 15-, 12-, and 5-HETE were significantly increased. The calcium ionophore A23187 (10⁻⁶ M) significantly increased 15-HETE production, without significantly affecting cyclooxygenase metabolites. However, a combination of TNF-α (10⁻⁸ M) and A23187 (10⁻⁶ M) caused an inhibitory effect on each agent-induced PGE₂ or 15-HETE production.     

Activation of the human neutrophil by calcium-mobilizing ligands. II. Correlation of calcium, diacyl glycerol, and phosphatidic acid generation with superoxide anion generation

Calcium and protein kinase C (Ca2+/phospholipid-dependent enzyme) have been proposed to act as signals in triggering superoxide anion (O2-) generation by neutrophils. We have probed the adequacy and necessity of calcium and diacylglycerol (DG), activators of protein kinase C, in eliciting O2- generation and degranulation. Activation of neutrophils by the ligand 10(-7) M fMet-Leu-Phe triggered elevation of cytosolic calcium (fura-2) and a rapid, biphasic increase in labeled DG in [14C]glycerol and [3H]arachidonate prelabeled cells. Buffering of the fMet-Leu-Phe-induced elevation of cytosolic calcium with MAPTAM (a cell permeant EGTA analogue) inhibited O2- generation by 90% and degranulation by 50%, concordant with a role of calcium in signaling. However, buffering the increase in calcium also decreased DG. Since phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate breakdown in response to fMet-Leu-Phe was not inhibited and phosphatidic acid levels were enhanced in MAPTAM pretreated cells, the removal of calcium may enhance further DG metabolism. Thus, a requirement for calcium could not be differentiated from a requirement for DG, and the profound inhibition of O2- generation in the presence of MAPTAM may reflect removal of DG. Four stimuli, fMet-Leu-Phe, 10(-7) M leukotriene B4, 100 micrograms/ml concanavalin A, and 200 nM ionomycin elevated cytosolic calcium and triggered release of specific granules, but only fMet-Leu-Phe and concanavalin A triggered substantial O2- generation. Nevertheless, all four stimuli significantly increased labeled DG. Therefore, elevated DG and elevated calcium may be necessary but do not appear adequate to elicit O2- generation. Only fMet-Leu-Phe and concanavalin A triggered generation of phosphatidic acid (PA) together with DG. Correlation of O2- generation with PA may reflect a requirement for PA per se or for a specific pool of DG that can be further metabolized to PA.     

Priming of calcium mobilization in human neutrophils by granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor: Evidence for an involvement of phospholipase D-derived phosphatidic acid

Human neutrophils pre-incubated with granulocyte-macrophage-colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) exhibit an enhanced mobilization of calcium in response to secondary stimuli such as chemotactic factors. The mechanisms underlying this priming effect of GM-CSF were examined. It was first demonstrated that the additional calcium mobilized by chemotactic factors in GM-CSF-treated cells was derived from intracellular stores and was associated neither with an increased permeability to calcium nor with production of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate. These results indicated that GM-CSF called upon a novel mechanism in order to enhance the mobilization of calcium in human neutrophils. The growth factor has recently been shown to prime phospholipase D leading to an enhanced activation by chemotactic factors and an augmented production of phosphatidic acid. Furthermore the ability of exogenous phosphatidic acid to mobilize calcium in cell types other than neutrophils has been previously demonstrated. Therefore, we examined the potential involvement of phospholipase D in the priming of the calcium response by GM-CSF in human neutrophils. Inhibition of the production of the fMet-Leu-Phe-stimulated production of phosphatidic acid by ethanol or wortmannin had only marginal effects on the concurrent mobilization of calcium. However, the priming of the mobilization of calcium by GM-CSF was greatly decreased in cells treated with either ethanol or wortmannin. These results provide strong support for the hypothesis that the production of phosphatidic acid, which is enhanced in GM-CSF-treated cells, is linked to an increased mobilization of intracellular calcium. These results may have relevance to the mechanism of action of GM-CSF in mature haematopoeitic cells as well to the mitogenic activity of other growth factors.     

Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor is a stimulant of platelet-activating factor and superoxide anion generation by human neutrophils.

Human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) was studied for its ability to stimulate the synthesis and release of the inflammatory mediator platelet-activating factor (PAF) from human neutrophils as measured by bioassay and incorporation of [3H]acetate into PAF. GM-CSF stimulated the synthesis but not the release of PAF from neutrophils. PAF synthesis took place in a time- and concentration-dependent manner, was dependent on a pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein and could be inhibited by antibodies to GM-CSF. On the other hand, pre-incubation of neutrophils with GM-CSF followed by stimulation with the bacterial tripeptide formylmethionylleucylphenylalanine caused PAF synthesis and release. The effect of GM-CSF was qualitative and not simply the result of larger amounts of PAF being synthesized since similar amounts were generated in response to the calcium ionophore A23187 but no released PAF could be detected. In functional studies GM-CSF stimulated superoxide anion generation from neutrophils with a time and dose relationship that paralleled PAF synthesis. In addition, the serine protease inhibitor L-1-tosylamide-2-phenylethyl chloromethyl ketone, which inhibits PAF synthesis, reduced PAF accumulation as well as superoxide generation, raising the possibility of a causal relationship between cell-associated PAF and cell activation. These results identify PAF as a direct product of GM-CSF stimulation in neutrophils where it may play a role in signal transduction and demonstrate that PAF is released only after subsequent neutrophil stimulation. The selective release of PAF may play a role in regulating and amplifying the inflammatory response.     

Unsaturated phosphatidylcholines inhibit superoxide production in human neutrophils.

Unsaturated long chain phosphatidylcholines such as phosphatidylcholine dioleoyl and phosphatidylcholine dilinoleoyl in micromolar concentrations inhibited the superoxide production in neutrophils stimulated by the activators of protein kinase C, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate and 1,2-dioctanoyl-sn- glycerol. In contrast, the superoxide production induced by surface receptor agonist, formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine, was unaffected by the phospholipids. These data suggest that surfactant phosphatidylcholines may have a modulatory role on neutrophil oxidative burst in the lung during inflammation where there is a preponderance of unsaturated phosphatidylcholines.