Activation factors of neutrophil NADPH oxidase complex

Professional phagocytes, neutrophils, possess a unique membrane-associated NADPH oxidase system, dormant in resting cells, which becomes activated upon exposure to the appropriate stimuli and catalyzes the one-electron reduction of molecular oxygen to superoxide, O2-. Oxidase activation involves the assembly, in the plasma membrane, of membrane-bound and cytosolic constituents of the oxidase system, which are disassembled in the resting state. The oxidase system consists of two plasma membrane-bound components; low-potential cytochrome b558, which is composed of two subunits of 22 kDa and 91 kDa, and a flavoprotein related to the electron transport between NADPH and heme-binding domains of the oxidase. Recent reports have indicated that FAD-binding sites of the oxidase are contained in cytochrome b558 (flavocytochrome b558). At least two cytosolic components, 67 kDa protein and a phosphorylated 47 kDa protein, are known to translocate to the plasma membrane, ensuring assembly of an active O2(-)-generating NADPH oxidase system. More recently, the membrane (Raps) and cytosolic (Racs) GTP-binding proteins have been established as essential to oxidase assembly. It is the purpose of this review to focus on recent data concerning the regulatory mechanisms which lead to organization and activation of the neutrophil NADPH oxidase system.