Changes of fluorescence anisotropy in plasma membrane of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes during the respiratory burst phenomenon.

Steady state fluorescence anisotropy (rs) of TMA-DPH was measured to study the effect of respiratory burst activation with PMA, FMLP, and PAF on the physico-chemical structure of PMNs plasma membrane. Our results show a significant increase in rs during the respiratory burst activation. In the presence of NADPH-oxidase inhibitor DPI, only PAF induces changes in rs values. This suggests a non-specific effect of PAF on plasma membrane. Azide, which induces a supranormal release of H2O2, fails to increase the basal rs value after activation. Moreover, the catalase does not abolish the increase in rs induced upon activation. This rules out the possibility that changes of rs during the respiratory burst activation are attributed mainly to H2O2 release. We conclude that multiple processes accompanying the respiratory burst activation are responsible for the changes in the physico-chemical properties of PMNs plasma membrane.