Phospholipase D-mediated diradylglycerol formation coincides with H2O2 and lactoferrin release in adherent human neutrophils.

Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) adherent to fibrinogen exhibit a delay in the onset of the respiratory burst in response to N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP). Previously, we demonstrated that H2O2 release in adherent PMNs coincides with the exocytosis of lactoferrin-containing specific granules. Since diradylglycerol (DRG) has been implicated in PMN secretion and oxidant release, we measured DRG formation during PMN adhesion to fibrinogen. PMNs were added to fibrinogen-coated plastic in the presence of fMLP, and H2O2 release, lactoferrin release, and DRG formation measured over a time course of 120 min. H2O2 and lactoferrin release were not apparent until 45-60 min, reaching maximal levels by 120 min. In contrast, DRG concentration increased by 15-30 min, from 275 +/- 27 pmol/mg of protein in resting cells to 600 +/- 173 pmol/mg protein in cells exposed to fMLP. DRG levels returned to base line by 30-45 min (383 +/- 32 pmol/mg of protein) before increasing again between 60 and 120 min (944 +/- 230 pmol/mg of protein and 1632 +/- 351 pmol/mg of protein, respectively). Propranolol, an inhibitor of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase, caused a dose-dependent inhibition of both H2O2 and lactoferrin release, with maximal inhibition at 50-100 microM. Propranolol also inhibited the second, but not the first phase of DRG formation. Similarly, ethanol treatment completely blocked H2O2 and lactoferrin release, and the second phase of DRG formation. In the presence of ethanol, phospholipase D (PLD)-mediated formation of [3H]phosphatidylethanol from 3H-O-alkyl-phosphatidylcholine corresponded to the second, but not the first, phase of DRG formation (23,169 +/- 2,017 cpm/mg protein, ethanol versus 2,696 +/- 261 cpm/mg protein, control). These data indicate that DRG, generated through the activation of PLD, plays an important role in degranulation and oxidant release in adherent PMNs.