Signal transduction pathway in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes for chemotaxis induced by a chemotactic factor. Distinct from the pathway for superoxide anion production.

The tyrosine kinase inhibitors erbstatin and herbimycin A inhibited the chemotactic response to FMLP (2 x 10(-7) M) and the superoxide anion (O2-) production stimulated by FMLP (1 x 10(-6) M) in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) in similar manners. These compounds also inhibited phospholipase D (PLD)-catalyzed breakdown of phosphatidyl choline, suggesting a possible link between tyrosine kinase and PLD. In the presence of propranolol (phosphatidic acid (PA) phosphohydrolase inhibitor), or ethanol, the activation of PLD results in the modulation of PA and/or diglyceride (DG) generation, producing an irregularity in O2- production. However, PMN motility was not affected in these conditions. These results suggest that PLD is a downstream effector of FMLP-induced tyrosine kinase activation that leads to activation of the PMN superoxide release but not to chemotactic migration. In contrast, the tyrosine kinase inhibitors did not inhibit inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate generation and increase of intracellular concentration of free calcium. Furthermore, a protein kinase C inhibitor, 1-(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine dihydrochloride (H-7), did not affect the migration of PMN and the activation of PLD induced by FMLP at concentrations of less than 50 microM. These results support the premise that there is a specific signaling pathway for chemoattractant-induced PMN locomotion.