The first seconds of neutrophil activation: phosphoinositides, protein kinase C, and calcium movements

Activation of the neutrophil by interaction of a ligand such as f-Met-Leu-Phe with its specific receptor elicits a prompt breakdown of PIP2 and the generation of PA via diacylglycerol. There is a rapid elevation of cytosolic calcium and activation of protein kinase C. Calcium and protein kinase C act synergistically to elicit the physiological responses. Although PIP2 breakdown and PA generation are prompt responses of neutrophils to receptor occupancy by chemoattractants, these steps can be bypassed by stimuli which directly activate protein kinase C or increase cytosolic calcium. Elevation of cytosolic Ca and activation of protein kinase C did not elicit breakdown of PIP2, indicating that phosphoinositide remodeling is not caused by activation of protein kinase C or by elevation of cytosolic calcium, nor is such a breakdown or the generation of phosphatidic acid required for the subsequent responses. The evidence indicates that PIP2 breakdown is an early event in stimulus-response coupling and is correlated with receptor-initiated generation of the signal.