Clofazimine-mediated regulation of human polymorphonuclear leukocyte migration by pro-oxidative inactivation of both leukoattractants and cellular migratory responsiveness.

The effects of clofazimine (0.15-20 micrograms/ml) on the spontaneous and N-formyl-L-methionyl-L-leucyl-L-phenylalanine (FMLP)-stimulated migration, membrane-associated oxidative metabolism, degranulation and production of prostaglandin (PG) E2 by human polymorphonuclear in vitro have been investigated. Clofazimine at concentrations of 0.3 microgram/ml and greater significantly increased both the spontaneous and FMLP-stimulated chemiluminescence (CL), hexose monophosphate shunt (HMS) activity, myeloperoxidase-mediated protein iodination, auto-iodination, degranulation and PGE2 production by PMNL. At the same concentrations clofazimine inhibited both random and leukoattractant-induced migration of PMNL. Inhibition of PMNL migration by clofazimine was due to both a cell-directed auto-oxidative mechanism and by functional inactivation of FMLP. Clofazimine mediated inhibition of PMNL migration was prevented by the anti-oxidants cysteine and dapsone but not by the potent inhibitors of PG synthetase indomethacin and piroxicam. Anti-oxidants also protected FMLP from functional inactivation by clofazimine-exposed PMNL. Clofazimine increased both the spontaneous and FMLP-stimulated production of PGE2 by PMNL from four children with chronic granulomatous disease (CGD). Clofazimine is not an oxidising agent nor did it stimulate membrane-associated oxidative metabolism in CGD or NaF-pulsed normal PMNL. These data show that clofazimine-mediated inhibition of PMNL migration is dependent on intact cellular membrane-associated oxidative metabolism. Clofazimine is therefore a pro-oxidative anti-inflammatory agent.