Effects of colchicine, vinblastine and nocodazole on polarity, motility, chemotaxis and cAMP levels of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

We present evidence for intrinsic polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) polarity manifested in presence of microtubule-disrupting drugs. Polarization in response to colchicine correlated with the known dose-dependent effects of this drug on microtubule disassembly. The response to 10(-5) M colchicine, 10(-5) M vinblastine and 10(-6) M nocodazole was associated with stimulated motility and random locomotion. Responses elicited by microtubule-disrupting drugs differed from f-Met-Leu-Phe (fMLP)-induced polarization by functional and morphological criteria. Polarization, motility and orthokinesis responses were much weaker. Furthermore, ruffling was almost absent in PMNs polarized in response to colchicine, vinblastine or nocodazole. The response was inhibited by cytochalasin B, indicating that it is microfilament-dependent. We suggest that microtubule-disrupting drugs induce motility via structural changes in the cytoskeleton which act as signals for the motor apparatus. The intrinsic polarity manifested in the presence of microtubule-disrupting drugs could be reversed by an extracellular chemotactic gradient. Stimulated locomotion and motility in response to microtubule-disrupting drugs was only observed with initially spherical PMNs but not with initially motile cells. The findings provide an explanation for the numerous conflicting statements on the chemokinetic activities of these drugs. The role of cAMP in stimulated polarization and motility has been studied. Colchicine, vinblastine and nocodazole elicited a transient elevation of cAMP levels within 1 min of stimulation. cAMP elevation and stimulated motility were not quantitatively correlated.