Cellular responses of guinea-pig macrophages to C4a; inhibition of C3a-induced O2- generation by C4a.

We have investigated the cellular responses of guinea-pig macrophages to human C4a. C4a induced a biphasic Ca2+ mobilization; a rapid temporary Ca2+ mobilization from intracellular Ca2+ pool followed by a weak Ca2+ influx of extracellular Ca2+. Although the C4a-treated macrophages did not respond again to C4a, that is, desensitization to C4a, the C4a-desensitized macrophages still responded to C3a to induce a Ca2+ mobilization. Furthermore, C4a failed to inhibit [125I]-C3a binding to macrophages, suggesting that C4a receptors are different from C3a receptors. In contrast to C3a, C4a-induced Ca2+ mobilization didn't link to O2- generation but inhibited the C3a-induced O2- generation. These results suggest that C4a binds to a specific C4a receptor on guinea-pig macrophages to down-regulate the C3a receptor-mediated O2- generation in macrophages.