Granulocyte response to oxidized FMLP. Evidence for partial inactivation of FMLP.

We prepared FMoxLP by oxidation of FMLP and evaluated its ability to trigger a variety of granulocyte responses. FMoxLP was found to depolarize granulocyte membranes; increase granulocyte oxygen consumption, superoxide production, and hydrogen peroxide production; compete with FMLP for binding to granulocytes; and stimulate granulocyte chemotaxis. Against all of these granulocyte functions, FMoxLP was considerably less potent than the parent FMLP. When luminol-dependent-granulocyte chemiluminescence (CL) was studied, FMoxLP was observed to be a more potent stimulus of this response than FMLP. This increased CL activity of FMoxLP may be related to nonoxidative burst mechanisms. Our results indicate that FMoxLP retains a significant amount of the biological activity of FMLP (albeit in general less potent). The biological importance of the observed activities of FMoxLP must await further investigation.