Diacylglycerol, 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-glycerol, stimulates superoxide-generation from human neutrophils.

1-Oleoyl-2-acetyl-glycerol which activates Ca2+-activated phospholipid-dependent protein kinase, induced the superoxide-production of human neutrophils, while other diacylglycerols did not. The induction was independent of extracellular calcium and did not accompany the increase of the intracellular free calcium. The superoxide-release by the diacylglycerol was inhibited by retinal, the inhibitor of the protein kinase. The diacylglycerol stimulated the phosphorylation of at least 4 proteins in intact neutrophils, the phosphorylation of which was stimulated by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, the activator of the protein kinase. These observations indicate the possible involvement of the kinase in the induction process.