title: Desensitization of formyl peptide receptors is abolished in calcium ionophore-primed neutrophils: an association of the ligand-receptor complex to the cytoskeleton is not required for a rapid termination of the NADPH-oxidase response.
abstract: Binding of ligands to N-formyl peptide chemoattractant receptors exposed on human neutrophils generates signals in the cells that induce an activation of the superoxide anion producing NADPH-oxidase. Ligand binding is followed by a rapid association of the ligand-receptor complex with the cytoskeleton, a process leading to desensitization of the cells with respect to NADPH-oxidase activation. We show that neutrophils that have experienced an intracellular calcium rise obtained through interaction with the calcium-specific ionophore ionomycin are "primed" with respect to the FMLP-induced production of superoxide anions. Mobilization of FMLP receptors from intracellular pools is one well-known mechanism behind the primed response. Based on our finding that ionomycin-treated neutrophils could not be desensitized, we suggest that the lack of association between the ligand-receptor complex and the cytoskeleton is an additional priming mechanism. Since in vivo-exudated neutrophils, which also had mobilized intracellular organelles, could be desensitized, we suggest that the abolished desensitization in ionomycin-treated neutrophils is not due to an inability of newly recruited receptors to couple to the cytoskeleton. We show that a rapid termination of FMLP-induced superoxide anion production is obtained in both desensitizable and nondesensitizable neutrophils, suggesting that the desensitization phenomenon is of limited importance in the oxidase termination process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Göteborg, Sweden.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Harbecke
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Elwing
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Follin
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karlsson
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dahlgren
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D015759:Ionomycin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008024:Ligands; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D009240:N-Formylmethionine Leucyl-Phenylalanine / Q000097:blood* / Q000494:pharmacology; D019255:NADPH Oxidases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000097:blood*; D018375:Neutrophil Activation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D044042:Receptors, Formyl Peptide; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D018000:Receptors, Peptide / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D013481:Superoxides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D008024:Ligands; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D044042:Receptors, Formyl Peptide; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D018000:Receptors, Peptide; D013481:Superoxides; D015759:Ionomycin; D009240:N-Formylmethionine Leucyl-Phenylalanine; D019255:NADPH Oxidases