Identification of distinct activation pathways of the human neutrophil NADPH-oxidase.

The stimulation of the human neutrophil NADPH-oxidase is initiated by a variety of agonists, which appear to utilize more than one activation pathway. We have discerned that opsonized zymosan (OZ) stimulates O2- release by a mechanism distinct from that of phorbol myristate acetate (PMA). PMA differs from OZ stimulation in its susceptibility to H-7 (a protein kinase inhibitor) inhibition of O2- release and the lack of PMA-initiated release of radiolabeled arachidonic acid (3HAA) from prelabeled cells. That AA release was linked to O2- generation in OZ-stimulated cells was suggested by the finding that mepacrine, a phospholipase inhibitor, exhibits parallel dose response inhibition for both O2- generation and 3HAA release, whereas mepacrine did not significantly inhibit the O2- generation induced by PMA. The specific involvement of phospholipase A2 (PLA2) in the release of AA was indicated by the lack of release of 3Holeate, which is not released by PLA2 in intact cells; 3HAA released from phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylcholine and not accompanied by the formation of 3H-arachidonyl phosphatidic acid, thus eliminating the involvement of phospholipase C; and the inhibition of 3HAA release by p-bromophenacyl bromide, a specific PLA2 inhibitor. The reduction of O2- formation by inhibitors of AA metabolism (BW755C, acetylsalicylic acid, and indomethacin) further supports a linkage between AA release and O2- generation. That 3HAA release, like O2- generation, in OZ-stimulated cells was calcium dependent further differentiates OZ from calcium-independent PMA activation. These studies in toto suggest that OZ stimulation of the NADPH-oxidase differs from PMA, in that the particulate stimulus is PLA2 mediated and independent of protein kinase C.