Regulation of superoxide generation by myeloperoxidase during the respiratory burst of human neutrophils.

The role of myeloperoxidase in the regulation of the respiratory burst of human neutrophils activated by the chemotactic peptide (N-formyl-L-methionyl-L-leucyl-L-phenylalanine) plus cytochalasin B was determined by using anti-(human myeloperoxidase) antibody. The respiratory burst activated under these conditions consisted of an initial (1-2 min) phase with high rates of O2 uptake, luminol-dependent chemiluminescence and superoxide radical (O2-.) generation and a second, more sustained, phase of lower magnitude of chemiluminescence and O2 uptake: O2-. generation did not occur during this second phase. In cell suspensions stimulated in the presence of anti-(human myeloperoxidase) antibody, the magnitude of the initial phase of both O2 uptake and O2-. generation was unaffected, but these high rates were maintained over much longer periods than in control suspensions. It is therefore proposed that a product of myeloperoxidase normally regulates the duration of O2-. generation during the respiratory burst, possibly by inhibition of NADPH oxidase.