Stimulation and priming of protein kinase C translocation by a Ca2+ transient-independent mechanism. Studies in human neutrophils challenged with platelet-activating factor and other receptor agonists.

N-Formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP) and leukotriene B4 stimulate human polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) to translocate protein kinase C from the cytosol to plasmalemma as judged by their abilities to increase PMN binding of and receptor numbers for [3H]phorbol dibutyrate [( 3H]PDB) (O'Flaherty, J.T., Jacobson, D.P., Redman, J.F., and Rossi, A.G. (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 9146-9152). Platelet-activating factor (PAF) had these same effects. Moreover, two potent PAF analogs (but not an inactive analog) increased [3H]PDB binding; a PAF antagonist blocked responses to PAF without altering those to fMLP; and PMN treated with PAF became desensitized to PAF while retaining sensitivity to fMLP. Indeed, PMN incubated with 1-100 nM PAF for 5-40 min had markedly enhanced [3H]PDB binding responses to fMLP. PAF thus acted through its receptors to stimulate and prime protein kinase C translocation. Its effects, however, did not necessarily proceed by a standard mechanism: Ca2(+)-depleted PMN failed to raise Fura-2-monitored cytosolic Ca2+ concentrations [( Ca2+]i), yet increased [3H]PDB binding and receptor numbers almost normally after PAF challenge. PAF also primed Ca2(+)-depleted PMN to fMLP. Nevertheless, [3H]PDB binding responses to PAF were blocked in PMN loaded with Ca2+ chelators, viz. Quin 2, Fura-2, or 5,5'-dimethyl-1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (BAPTA). Exogenous Ca2+ reversed Quin 2 inhibition, and a weak chelator 4,4'-difluoro-BAPTA, lacked inhibitory actions. The chelators similarly influenced fMLP and leukotriene B4. Thus, PMN can by-pass [Ca2+]i to translocate protein kinase C. They may achieve this using a regulatable pool of Ca2+ that evades conventional [Ca2+]i monitors or a signal that needs cell Ca2+ to form and/or act. This signal may mediate function in Ca2(+)-depleted cells, the actions of [Ca2+]i-independent stimuli, cell priming, and protein kinase C movements that otherwise seem [Ca2+]i-induced.