fMLP-Induced IL-8 Release Is Dependent on NADPH Oxidase in Human Neutrophils

María A Hidalgo1, María D Carretta1, Stefanie E Teuber1

  • 1Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacology and Morphophysiology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Universidad Austral de Chile, Independencia 631, 5110566 Valdivia, Chile.

Insights

N-Formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP) triggers interleukin-8 (IL-8) release in neutrophils via NADPH oxidase. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a key role in activating PI3K/Akt and NF-κB signaling pathways.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Cellular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • N-Formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP) and platelet-activating factor (PAF) elicit comparable intracellular signaling, yet only fMLP stimulates interleukin-8 (IL-8) release and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate reduced (NADPH) oxidase activity in neutrophils.
  • The precise role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in fMLP-induced IL-8 secretion and neutrophil signaling remains debated.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the involvement of NADPH oxidase in fMLP-induced IL-8 secretion.
  • To determine the role of NADPH oxidase and ROS in activating PI3K/Akt, MAPK, and NF-κB pathways in neutrophils stimulated by fMLP.

Main Methods:

  • Neutrophils from healthy volunteers were utilized.
  • Quantification of IL-8 (ELISA), IL-8 mRNA (qPCR), and ROS production (chemiluminescence, ferricytochrome c reduction, FACS).
  • Analysis of intracellular pH, Akt, ERK1/2, p38 MAPK phosphorylation (immunoblotting), and NF-κB translocation (immunocytochemistry).

Main Results:

  • Inhibition of NADPH oxidase (using HMAP, DPI, siRNA Nox2) reduced both ROS and IL-8 release in fMLP-treated neutrophils.
  • HMAP, DPI, and amiloride inhibited Akt phosphorylation, while p38 MAPK and ERK1/2 activity remained unaffected.
  • DPI and HMAP diminished fMLP-induced NF-κB translocation.

Conclusions:

  • fMLP-induced IL-8 release from neutrophils is dependent on NADPH oxidase activity.
  • ROS generated by NADPH oxidase may act redundantly in cell signaling, ultimately activating PI3K/Akt and NF-κB pathways.

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