Co-operation of phosphatidylinositol transfer protein with phosphoinositide 3-kinase gamma in the formylmethionyl-leucylphenylalanine-dependent production of phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate in human neutrophils.

Phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and its product phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate (PIP3) play an essential role in the regulation of neutrophil functions by the chemoattractant formylmethionyl-leucylphenylalanine (FMLP). Here we show that permeabilization of human neutrophils leads to loss of cytosolic components, including PI3Kgamma, and causes the loss of FMLP-dependent production of PIP3. FMLP-sensitive synthesis of PIP3 could be restored by reconstitution of permeabilized neutrophils with recombinant PI3Kgamma. Admixture of recombinant phosphatidylinositol transfer protein (PITP) to the reconstitution cocktail produced a further increase of PIP3 synthesis, whereas pertussis toxin suppressed the FMLP-dependent production of PIP3. We conclude that FMLP-sensitive PIP3 formation in human neutrophils involves the FMLP receptor, heterotrimeric G-proteins of the Gi type, PI3Kgamma and PITP.