Morphological changes in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes induced by C3a in the presence and absence of...

Treatment of human peripheral polymorphonuclear leukocytes(PMNs) with C3a leads to profound changes in cell morphology, along with the limited secretion of lysozyme. Simultaneous addition of C3a and cytochalasin B enhances the release of lysosomal enzymes and renders the cell morphology similar to that seen when either C5a or n-formyl peptides are added to PMNs in the presence of cytochalasin B. The morphological response of PMNs treated with C3a is considerably more heterogeneous than that induced by either C5a or n-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine, indicating that some, but not all, PMNs have receptors for C3a.