Tumor necrosis factor-induced degranulation in adherent human neutrophils is dependent on CD11b/CD18-integrin-triggered oscillations of cytosolic free Ca2+.

We have recently been able to correlate closely the "spontaneous" oscillatory activity of cytosolic free Ca2+ in adherent human neutrophils with the ability of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) to induce secretion of granule proteins from these cells. In the present work we show with a single-cell technique that preincubation of human neutrophils with antibodies to CD18, the common beta chain of leukocyte adhesion proteins, inhibits TNF-induced secretion of lactoferrin in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Similar effects of CD18 antibodies were found on chemotactic factor (fMet-Leu-Phe)- but not on phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-induced secretion, suggesting that cell-surface-receptor-mediated secretion is dependent on integrin-associated signals. Similarly, antibodies to CD11b (alpha chain of macrophage 1) also inhibited TNF- and fMet-Leu-Phe- but not phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-stimulated release of lactoferrin. Antibodies to CD11a (alpha chain of lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1) or CD11c (alpha chain of p150,95) had only a minimal effect on agonist-induced secretion. Data obtained in several laboratories, including our own, made us suspect that integrin interaction with the surface is responsible for the oscillatory activity of cytosolic free Ca2+ in adherent cells. Indeed, preincubation with antibodies to either CD18 or CD11b, but not to CD11c, inhibited the oscillations of cytosolic free Ca2+ in adherent neutrophils. This inhibitory effect was evident both as a reduction of the number of responding cells and as a reduction of the oscillatory activity in the cells. In conclusion, the oscillatory activity of cytosolic free Ca2+ in adherent neutrophils is mediated through the CD18/CD11b integrins. The generation of this Ca2+ signal may explain how adherence, by way of the integrins, changes the functional properties of the cell and enables TNF to induce secretion.