Retinoids stimulate the release of superoxide by neutrophils and change their morphology

All-trans-retinal stimulated the release of superoxide by human and guinea pig neutrophils 63 +/- 14 SD and 53 +/- 5 SD nmol of O2-/min/10(7) cells, respectively. Superoxide release by unstimulated cells was negligible. All-trans-retinal also induced morphological changes (i.e., evaginations) in these cells. Other retinoids were effective in instigating these phenomena. The similarities of these effects to those instigated by cis-unsaturated fatty acids (Badwey, J.A., et al., 1984, J. Biol. Chem., 259:7870-7877) are discussed in light of possible mechanisms.