Correlation between neutrophil superoxide formation, luminol-augmented chemiluminescence and intracellular Ca²⁺ levels upon stimulation with leukotriene B₄, formylpeptide and phorbolester

Abstract

When neutrophils were stimulated with leukotriene B₄ (LTB₄) O-production and elevation of intracellular Ca²⁺ were initiated more rapidly than after stimulation with, N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine. Phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) induced a substantially more protracted superoxide (O₂) production. Luminol augmented chemiluminescence (LCL) reflected the kinetic characteristics accurately. The primary distinguishing attribute of LTB₄-induced responses were an initial high rate of activation and a rapid termination. Thus, LTB₄-induced neutrophil Ca²⁺-inflow and O₂-formation may be initiated by mechanisms similar in part to those for formylpeptides; however it does not possess the ability to maintain this activation. The kinetic properties of neutrophil activation may be studied with LCL, irrespective of the exact nature of the LCL-generating oxidants formed by neutrophils.

Key Words:

• calcium
• chemiluminescence
• fMetLeuPhe
• leukotriene B₄
• luminol
• neutrophil
• phorbol myristate acetate
• superoxide