Leukotriene B4 induces formation of inositol phosphates in rat peritoneal polymorphonuclear leukocytes

Leukotriene B4 (LTB4) induced rapid breakdown of prelabeled inositol phospholipids in rat peritoneal polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs). Formation of [3H]inositol triphosphate ([3H]IP3) was rapid, with a peak of 250-300% of the control level, after 5-15 sec of exposure to LTB4. Accumulation of [3H]inositol bisphosphate was rapid, peaking after 30 sec of treatment. Accumulation of [3H]inositol monophosphate was also rapid in the presence of LiCl. The kinetics of [3H]IP3, [3H]inositol bisphosphate, and [3H]inositol monophosphate accumulation suggest that LTB4 may interact with receptors in PMNs and activate phospholipase C which in turn induces hydrolysis of inositol-phospholipids. The agonist activities of several LTB4 analogs were employed to investigate the structure-activity relationships of LTB4 receptor-mediated activation of phosphatidylinositol hydrolysis. Increases in [3H]IP3 formation were dependent upon the concentration of LTB4 and the agonist analogs. The rank order potency of these analogs was equivalent to that of the pharmacological activity of LTB4 agonists in the PMN chemotaxis assay. Furthermore, the islet activation protein isolated from Bordetella pertussis inhibited LTB4-induced [3H]IP3 formation. The tumor-promoting phorbol myristate acetate also inhibited LTB4-induced [3H]IP3 formation. The LTB4 receptors on a partially purified PMN membrane were characterized. LTB4 binding to the receptors was stereoselective and specific. The binding affinity (Kd) of [3H] LTB4 to the receptors was 1.3 +/- 0.2 nM. The maximum density of binding was 5.5 +/- 1.8 pmol/mg of protein. The rank order potency of binding affinities of several LTB4 analogs was equivalent to that of the induction of IP3 response induced by LTB4 and analogs. These results suggest that LTB4 may interact with receptors in rat PMNs, activate G protein-regulated phospholipase C, and induce [3H]IP3 formation.