Fluoride activation of neutrophils: similarities to formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine.

Fluoride induced degranulation of both primary and specific granules from neutrophils pretreated with cytochalasin B. There was a similarity in the dependency on extracellular Ca2+ for fluoride- and for FMLP-stimulated O2- generation and degranulation. Pertussis toxin, but not cholera toxin, inhibited FMLP and fluoride activation of neutrophils, while neither toxin affected PMA activation of these cells. These results suggest that fluoride and FMLP activate neutrophils through a common Ca2+-dependent and pertussis toxin-sensitive pathway.