Generation of leukotrienes and lipoxygenase factors from human polymorphonuclear granulocytes during bacterial phagocytosis and interaction with bacterial exotoxins.

The generation and release of lipoxygenase factors and leukotrienes from human polymorphonuclear granulocytes is demonstrated during bacterial phagocytosis and interaction with bacterial exotoxins (alpha-toxin, enterotoxin, lipase from Staph. aureus; Streptolysin O; cytotoxin from Pseudomonas aeruginosa). The leukotrienes released during stimulation exert chemotactic properties for human neutrophils and guinea pig eosinophils (leukotriene B4) and show the characteristic profile of slow reacting substance activity which is induced by leukotriene C4, D4 and E4. The toxin induced spasmogenic activity obtained from human PMNs was inhibited in the presence of the SRS-antagonist FPL 55712. The generation of lipoxygenase factors is also demonstrated by autoradiography using 14C arachidonic acid prelabelled granulocytes.