Okadaic acid produces changes in phosphorylation and translocation of proteins and in intracellular calcium in human neutrophils. Relationship with the activation of the NADPH oxidase by different stimuli.

Okadaic acid, a potent inhibitor of protein phosphatases 1 and 2A, profoundly influenced the activity of the NADPH oxidase of human neutrophils. It strongly inhibited stimulation of superoxide generation by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and impaired translocation of protein kinase activity and of the two cytosolic components p47-phox and p67-phox to the plasma membrane. The increase in the phosphorylation of the cytochrome b-245 subunits p22-phox and gp91-phox after stimulation was also blocked. Inhibition of activity was associated with a decrease in cytosolic free Ca2+ and was reversed by the Ca2+ ionophore A23187, which also restored protein translocation and phosphorylation of the cytochrome. This effect of A23187 was itself blocked by preincubation with cyclosporin A, suggesting that calcineurin might be involved in the re-activation process. In contrast with PMA, the response to the bacterial peptide fMet-Leu-Phe was greatly prolonged after an initial decrease in the rate of onset of NADPH oxidase activity.