Activation of the human neutrophil 5-lipoxygenase by exogenous arachidonic acid: involvement of pertussis toxin-sensitive guanine nucleotide-binding proteins.

1. The mechanism by which incubation of human peripheral blood neutrophils with exogenous arachidonic acid leads to 5-lipoxygenase product synthesis was investigated. 2. Incubation of neutrophils with arachidonic acid caused a concentration- and time-dependent synthesis of leukotriene B4, its omega-oxidation products, and 5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid. 3. The threshold concentration of arachidonic acid required for this effect was equal to, or greater than 3.3 microM and the synthesis increased with up to 33 microM arachidonic acid, the highest concentration used. Synthesis induced by arachidonic acid increased with time for up to 15 min and the major products detected were the omega-oxidation products of leukotriene B4. 4. Pre-incubation of neutrophils with pertussis toxin inhibited the synthesis of 5-lipoxygenase products induced by arachidonic acid by 75% or more, but had no effect on either arachidonic acid-induced synthesis of the 15-lipoxygenase product, 15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid, or activation of the 5-lipoxygenase induced by the calcium ionophore A23187. 5. Pre-incubation of neutrophils with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor lead to enhanced leukotriene synthesis in response to arachidonic acid. 6. These results imply that exogenous arachidonic acid is not only used as a substrate, but also activates the 5-lipoxygenase. Possible mechanisms of action are discussed.