Bordetella pertussis adenylate cyclase: effects of affinity-purified adenylate cyclase on human polymorphonuclear leukocyte functions.

Affinity-purified adenylate cyclase (AC) of Bordetella pertussis, free of contaminating pertussis toxin, was demonstrated to have biological effects on human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN). AC at doses of 25 and 50 micrograms/ml increased intracellular cAMP levels in the phagocytes 7.6- to 23.5-fold, respectively, above basal levels. AC inhibited PMN chemiluminescence, chemotaxis, and superoxide production in a dose-dependent manner. The 50% inhibitory dose for chemotaxis and chemiluminescence was 36.5 micrograms/ml; for superoxide generation it was 71.0 micrograms/ml. Although these PMN metabolic functions were impaired, no effect on phagocytic activity was observed.