What formyl peptide receptors, if any, are triggered by compound 43 and lipoxin A4?

In this study, we determined receptor preferences for compound 43, a nitrosylated pyrazolone derivative, and the eicosanoid lipoxin A(4) (LXA(4)), potent anti-inflammatory mediators in many experimental in vivo models. Their effects have been suggested to be mediated through binding to formyl peptide receptor (FPR)2 [earlier known as formyl peptide receptor-like 1 or the lipoxin A(4) receptor (ALXR)], one of the two members of the FPR family expressed in neutrophils. Compound 43 activates all neutrophil functions investigated, whereas LXA(4) induces a unique inhibiting pathway suggested to involve ß-arrestin binding as an early signalling step, but not a transient rise in intracellular Ca(2+). We show that compound 43 can activate not only FPR2 but also FPR1, the other neutrophil receptor in the FPR family, and FPR1 is actually the preferred receptor in human neutrophils and possibly also in the murine equivalent. LXA(4) analogues from two commercial sources were used, and neither of these induced any translocation of ß-arrestin as measured in an enzyme fragment complementation assay. The conclusions drawn from these experiments are that neither compound 43 nor LXA(4) works as FPR2 agonists in neutrophils, findings of importance for a proper interpretation of results obtained with these compounds as regulators of inflammation.

Lipoxin A(4) metabolites/analogues from two commercial sources have no effects on TNF-alpha-mediated priming or activation through the neutrophil formyl peptide receptors.

The eicosanoid lipoxin A(4) (LXA(4)) is a potent anti-inflammatory mediator in many in vivo experimental models, and it has been proposed that the effects of this molecule are mediated through binding to FPR2 (also termed FPRL1 or ALXR), a member of the formyl peptide receptor family. Research has shown that LXA(4) inhibits neutrophil function, which has been suggested to be an important mechanism in the anti-inflammatory activity of this lipoxin. However, experiments demonstrating such an impact of LXA(4) have not always been convincing. In this study, we examined the influence of metabolically stable LXA(4) analogues on the biological activities induced by a previously characterized FPR2 agonist (WKYMWM) and a commonly used FPR1 agonist (fMLF). We also investigated the analogues regarding their direct effect on TNFalpha-mediated neutrophil mobilization of the complement receptor 3 (CR3) and their indirect effect on cytokine-dependent priming of the cells. The LXA(4) analogues we used came from two commercial sources. In our experiments, they did not induce any direct neutrophil response, nor did they affect the increase in the number of CR3 molecules on the neutrophil surface or the primed response. Therefore, we conclude that these LXA(4) analogues do not have an impact on TNF-alpha induced signalling in neutrophils. We also applied a recently described technique that has proven to be a valuable tool for identifying selective FPR1 and FPR2 agonists and antagonists. We found that the lipoxin analogues did not induce any changes in the neutrophil response, which implies that LXA(4) does not act through FPR2 in these cells.

The inhibition of polymorphonuclear leukocyte cytotoxicity by dapsone. A possible mechanism in the treatment of dermatitis herpetiformis.

The effect of the sulfone compound 4,4'-diaminodiphenyl sulfone (dapsone) on normal human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) has been investigated in vitro. The drug has a dramatically beneficial effect in dermatitis herpetiformis in which the PMNL and immune complexes has been stressed to be of importance for the development of the skin lesions. Pruritus disappears and the inflammatory eruptions clear within a few days of starting therapy. The effect of dapsone has been evaluated on the different stages of phagocytosis. Using dapsone concentrations (1-30 mug/ml) comparable with those found after therapeutic doses, we have found that the drug interferes primarily with the myeloperoxidase (MPO)-H(2)O(2)-halide-mediated cytotoxic system in the PMNL. No effect was observed on random locomotion, chemotaxis, phagocytic ingestion, oxidative metabolism, or the release of lysosomal enzymes. Kinetic studies in a cell-free system with purified MPO revealed a competitive type of inhibition using varying concentrations of NaI. Furthermore, the inhibition resulted in reduced candidicidal activity during phagocytosis of Candida albicans, and reduced cytotoxicity to adjacent mammalian cells measured as the (51)Cr release from virus-induced lymphoma cells. Because the MPO-H(2)O(2)-halide system not only fulfills the antimicrobial activity but is suggested to be a modulator of the inflammatory reaction as well, the action of dapsone in dermatitis herpetiformis may in part be explained by its effect on this system.

Cell surface expression of fMet-Leu-Phe receptors on human neutrophils. Correlation to changes in the cytosolic free Ca2+ level and action of phorbol myristate acetate.

We have studied how cytosolic free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) changes and phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) exposure affects ligand-independent cell surface expression of fMet-Leu-Phe receptors on human neutrophils. Mere incubation primed neutrophils to double their binding of fMet-Leu-Phe. This spontaneous increase of peptide binding was unaffected by changes in the extracellular calcium concentration. However, depression of the [Ca2+]i totally abolished the increased binding of fMet-Leu-Phe. Scatchard-Plot analysis revealed that the observed increase of peptide binding was due to an increased number of receptors. Normalization of the [Ca2+]i in cells where it was initially depressed resulted in a slow but progressive increase in fMet-Leu-Phe binding. The rate of receptor recruitment could be enhanced by rapidly increasing the [Ca2+]i by addition of ionomycin. Addition of PMA to cells with near maximal receptor expression led to a marked reduction of fMet-Leu-Phe binding without affecting [Ca2+]i. These observations suggest the existence of a dual regulatory mechanism for up- and down-regulation of fMet-Leu-Phe receptors on the cell surface of human neutrophils.

Myeloperoxidase modulates the phagocytic activity of polymorphonuclear neutrophil leukocytes. Studies with cells from a myeloperoxidase-deficient patient.

Patients lacking the primary granulae enzyme, myeloperoxidase (MPO), do not usually show any increased susceptibility to infection or altered inflammatory response, in contrast to several other biochemical defects in polymorphonuclear neutrophils. We have now evaluated the role of MPO on phagocyte function in a patient with complete MPO deficiency suffering from generalized pustular psoriasis. We found that the MPO-deficient neutrophils showed enhanced phagocytosis (greater than 200% of normal) of IgG- and C3b-opsonized yeast particles and prolonged N-formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenylaline-mediated stimulation of superoxide production. When purified human MPO was added to normal neutrophils during cell adhesion, their Fc- and C3b-mediated phagocytosis was reduced without affecting cell viability. 1 microgram/ml of MPO reduced the Fc and C3b phagocytosis to 47 and 65%, respectively, whereas 10 micrograms/ml reduced the activity to 20 and 54%. Both attachment and ingestion were reduced to a similar extent, indicating that MPO affected the receptor function per se. When MPO was added to the hyperactive MPO-deficient cells, phagocytosis was reduced more rapidly. Catalase, azide, and methionine eliminated the inhibitory effect, and catalase and methionine, in fact, enhanced the phagocytic activity of adherent neutrophils. These data indicate that, apart from being a potent antimicrobial system, the oxidizing activity of the MPO-H2O2-halide system may modulate the inflammatory response by impairing certain receptor-mediated recognition mechanisms of phagocytic cells, which otherwise could elicit inflammatory reactions and tissue injury.

Neutrophil bactericidal activity against Staphylococcus aureus adherent on biological surfaces. Surface-bound extracellular matrix proteins activate intracellular killing by oxygen-dependent and -independent mechanisms.

The activation patterns of surface adherent neutrophils are modulated via interaction of extracellular matrix proteins with neutrophil integrins. To evaluate neutrophil bactericidal activity, Staphylococcus aureus adherent to biological surfaces were incubated with neutrophils and serum, and the survival of surface bacteria was determined. When compared to albumin-coated surfaces, the bactericidal activity of neutrophils adherent to purified human extracellular matrix was markedly enhanced (mean survival: 34.2% +/- 9.0% of albumin, P less than 0.0001) despite similar efficient ingestion of extracellular bacteria. Enhancement of killing was observed when surfaces were coated with purified constituents of extracellular matrix, i.e., fibronectin, fibrinogen, laminin, vitronectin, or type IV collagen. In addition to matrix proteins, the tetrapeptide RGDS (the sequence recognized by integrins) crosslinked to surface bound albumin was also active (survival: 74.5% +/- 5.5% of albumin, P less than 0.02), and fibronectin-increased killing was inhibited by soluble RGDS. Chemiluminescence measurements and experiments with CGD neutrophils revealed that both oxygen-dependent and -independent bactericidal mechanisms are involved. In conclusion, matrix proteins enhance intracellular bactericidal activity of adherent neutrophils, presumably by integrin recognition of RGDS-containing ligands. These results indicate a role for extracellular matrix proteins in the enhancement of the host defense against pyogenic infections.

A proinflammatory peptide from Helicobacter pylori activates monocytes to induce lymphocyte dysfunction and apoptosis.

Infection with Helicobacter pylori causes chronic gastritis, which is characterized by a dense mucosal infiltration by inflammatory cells such as monocytes/macrophages. H. pylori-induced inflammation is a risk factor for the development of gastric adenocarcinoma, but the mechanisms involved in H. pylori-associated carcinogenesis are poorly understood. A cecropin-like H. pylori peptide, Hp(2-20), was found to be a monocyte chemoattractant and activated the monocyte NADPH-oxidase to produce oxygen radicals. The receptors mediating monocyte activation were identified as FPRL1 and the monocyte-specific orphan receptor FPRL2. Hp(2-20)-activated monocytes inhibited lymphocytes with antitumor properties, such as CD56+ natural killer (NK) cells and CD3epsilon+ T cells. The changes observed in NK cells and T cells--a reduced antitumor cytotoxicity, downregulation of CD3zeta expression, and apoptosis--were mediated by Hp(2-20)-induced oxygen radicals. Histamine, a gastric mucosal constituent, rescued NK cells and T cells from inhibition and apoptosis by suppressing Hp(2-20)-induced oxygen radical formation. We conclude that H. pylori expression of this monocyte-activating peptide contributes to its ability to attract and activate monocytes and reduces the function and viability of antineoplastic lymphocytes. These novel mechanisms may be subject to local, histaminergic regulation in the gastric mucosa.

The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug piroxicam blocks ligand binding to the formyl peptide receptor but not the formyl peptide receptor like 1.

The anti-inflammatory drug piroxicam has been reported to affect the production of reactive oxygen species in phagocytes. This anti-inflammatory effect is thought to be mediated through inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX), an enzyme important for prostaglandin synthesis. We have compared the effects of piroxicam on superoxide production mediated by two closely related G-protein coupled receptors expressed on neutrophils, the formyl peptide receptor (FPR) and the formyl peptide receptor like 1 (FPRL1). Neutrophils were stimulated with agonists that bind specifically to FPR (the peptide ligand N-formyl-Met-Leu-Phe, fMLF) or FPRL1 (the peptide ligand Trp-Lys-Tyr-Met-Val-L-Met-NH(2), WKYMVM) or both of these receptors (the peptide ligand Trp-Lys-Tyr-Met-Val-D-Met-NH(2), WKYMVm). Piroxicam reduced the neutrophil superoxide production induced by the FPR agonist but had no significant effect on the FPRL1 induced response. Neutrophil intracellular calcium changes induced by the agonist WKYMVm (that triggers both FPR and FPRL1) were only inhibited by piroxicam when the drug was combined with the FPRL1 specific antagonist, Trp-Arg-Trp-Trp-Trp-Trp (WRW(4)), and this was true also for the inhibition of superoxide anion release. Receptor-binding analysis showed that the fluorescently labelled FPR specific ligand N-formyl-Nle-Leu-Phe-Nle-Tyr-Lys (fNLFNYK), was competed for in a dose-dependent manner, by the FPR ligand fMLF and as well as by piroxicam. We show that piroxicam inhibits the neutrophil responses triggered through FPR, but not through FPRL1 and this inhibition is due to a reduced binding of the activating ligand to its cell surface receptor.

Difference in extracellular radical release after chemotactic factor and calcium ionophore activation of the oxygen radical-generating system in human neutrophils.

Results obtained with the luminol-dependent chemiluminescence technique show that with this technique, generation of radicals from an extra- as well as from an intracellular source is quantified. By means of a chemiluminescence technique, using human neutrophils stimulated with the chemoattractant formylmethionylleucylphenylalanine and the calcium ionophore ionomycin, two different mechanisms of radical production and release are demonstrated. The chemoattractant causes the cells to produce oxygen radicals which to a large extent are released from the cells. The calcium ionophore is also capable of stimulating radical formation but does not suffice for extracellular release. Furthermore, the removal of extracellular Ca2+ is of minor importance for the extracellular radical production, whereas it totally inhibits the generation of radicals with an intracellular localization. The mechanism(s) behind intracellular and extracellular production of oxygen radicals is discussed.

Degranulation in human neutrophils primes the cells for subsequent responsiveness to the chemoattractant N-formylmethionylleucylphenylalanine but does not increase the sensitivity of the NADPH-oxidase to an intracellular calcium rise.

Both the chemotactic peptide formylmethionylleucylphenylalanine (FMLP) and the calcium-specific ionophore ionomycin can activate the NADPH-oxidase in human neutrophils. However, since ionomycin and FMLP activity differ in their requirement for azide, a potent inhibitor of the hydrogen peroxide consuming enzymes catalase and myeloperoxidase, we propose that the two stimuli can activate different pools of the oxidase. Degranulation, induced in vitro by sn-1,2-dedecaoylglycerol or in vivo by an exudation process, resulted in a priming of the cells using FMLP as stimulating agent as well as in a reduced capacity to generate H2O2 in response to ionomycin. The sensitivity of the plasma membrane-bound NADPH-oxidase to an intracellular [Ca2+] rise, induced by the ionophore was, however, not changed by the degranulation. From these results we propose that FMLP activates the plasma membrane-bound oxidase, whereas the ionophore is capable of activating a granule-bound pool of the oxidase.

Diverse effects of different neutrophil organelles on truncation and membrane-binding characteristics of annexin I.

A neutrophil annexin I-related protein, detected after translocation of cytosolic proteins to specific granules and secretory vesicles/plasma membrane (Sjölin et al. (1994) Biochem. J. 300, 325-330), has been characterized with respect to origin and organelle-binding properties. The annexin I-related protein is formed as a result of annexin I cleavage, and this occurs during translocation of annexin I to the specific granules and secretory vesicles/plasma membrane, but not when annexin I is translocated to azurophil granules. The cleavage required calcium and it was facilitated in the presence of specific granules or secretory vesicles/plasma membrane, but not in the presence of azurophil granules. We conclude that the membranes of specific granules and secretory vesicles/plasma membrane contain a protease which is able to cleave annexin I into a truncated 38 kDa fragment, which retains the ability to bind to these organelles. The azurophil granules lack the capacity to cleave annexin I as well as the ability to bind the 38 kDa fragment. These findings may implicate a role for annexin I in the divergent regulation of exocytosis of the different neutrophil granules.

Endogenous cleavage of annexin I generates a truncated protein with a reduced calcium requirement for binding to neutrophil secretory vesicles and plasma membrane.

We have earlier shown that an N-terminal truncated annexin I molecule, annexin I(des1-8), is generated in human neutrophils through cleavage by a membrane localized metalloprotease. The truncated protein showed differences in membrane binding among the neutrophil granule populations as compared to full-length annexin I. In this study, we investigated the cleavage capabilities of isolated neutrophil secretory vesicles and plasma membrane, and the binding of full-length annexin I and annexin I(des1-8) to these membrane fractions. Translocations were performed in vitro to secretory vesicles and plasma membrane, respectively, at different Ca(2+) concentrations. We show that the annexin I-cleaving membrane localized metalloprotease is present both in the secretory vesicles and the plasma membrane. The N-terminal truncation of annexin I gives rise to a molecule with a decreased Ca(2+) requirement for binding, both to secretory vesicles and plasma membrane. There was, thus, no difference in binding of either full-length annexin I or annexin I(des1-8) to the secretory vesicles as compared to the plasma membrane.

Difference in hydrogen peroxide release between human neutrophils and neutrophil cytoplasts following calcium ionophore activation. A role of the subcellular granule in activation of the NADPH-oxidase in human neutrophils?

The role of subcellular granule in the capacity to generate reactive oxygen metabolites in human granulocytes was studied using normal cells and organell-free neutrophil cytoplasts. The cytoplasts are devoid of granules but have an intact ligand-receptor coupling mechanism. Both the chemotactic peptide formylmethionylleucylphenylalanine (FMLP) and the ionophore ionomycin induced a chemiluminescence response in normal cells, but only FMLP stimulation was associated with any notable hydrogen peroxide production. However, in the presence of azide, a potent inhibitor of the hydrogen peroxide-consuming enzymes, catalase and myeloperoxidase, a pronounced release of hydrogen peroxide was also induced by ionomycin. The response of cytoplasts to FMLP proceeded with a rate and time-course similar to those seen in intact cells, whereas in response to ionomycin they produced very low quantities of hydrogen peroxide, even in the presence of azide. Analysis of the data presented in this study leads to the following conclusion: (i) FMLP, which acts through cell surface receptors, causes the cells to produce oxygen metabolites, which, to a large extent, are released from the cells, a process that is not dependent on subcellular granule; and (ii) ionomycin, which bypasses cell surface receptors, is also capable of stimulating hydrogen peroxide formation that is granule-dependent and that is retained inside the cells.

Cleavage of annexin I in human neutrophils is mediated by a membrane-localized metalloprotease.

A truncated form of annexin I, formed during Ca2+-induced translocation to neutrophil specific granules and secretory vesicles/plasma membranes, is generated through the action of an endogenous membrane protease. The cleavage of annexin I is inhibited by the metalloprotease inhibitor 1,10-phenanthroline as well as by Triton X-100 and dithiothreitol, classifying the protease as a membrane-bound, thiol-dependent metalloprotease. The cleavage site is located close to the N-terminal of annexin I, leaving a truncated form of the molecule, des1-8 annexin I, that contains the Ca2+-binding sites, as well as a number of phosphorylation sites of importance for the function of the protein. When assessing binding capacity to different neutrophil organelles, full-length annexin I bound to azurophil granules, specific granules, and secretory vesicles/plasma membranes, while des1-8 annexin I only bound to specific granules and secretory vesicles/plasma membranes, but not to azurophil granules (C. Sjölin, C. Dahlgren, Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1281 (1996) 227-234). This implies that there are different mechanisms of binding to neutrophil organelles of full-length annexin I and the truncated form, and that cleavage of annexin I might be of regulatory importance for the degranulation process.

Translocation of annexin XI to neutrophil subcellular organelles.

In an earlier study, annexin XI was found to be present in the cytosol of neutrophil granulocytes (Blood (1996) 87, 4817). The protein was isolated by calcium-dependent translocation to specific granules and was found to be a 42-kDa truncated form of annexin XI. Using human autoantibodies directed against annexin XI we have now reinvestigated the ability of full size annexin XI to translocate to different neutrophil organelles isolated by subcellular fractionation. The autoantisera used recognised a protein of 55-kDa in neutrophil cytosol and comparison with a whole cell lysate indicated that the larger portion of the cellular content of this protein is localised to the cytosol. Azurophil granules, specific granules and secretory vesicles/plasma membrane were isolated by subcellular fractionation on Percoll gradients, mixed respectively with neutrophil cytosol and the calcium concentration was raised. Immunoblotting showed that annexin XI translocated to specific granules and secretory vesicles/plasma membrane at 100 micromol/l calcium. When raising the concentration of calcium to 1 mmol/l, annexin XI translocated to the azurophil granules as well. Periphagosomal translocation of annexin XI occurred during phagocytosis of yeast particles, implying that this protein plays a role in the events associated with the phagocytic process.

Myeloperoxidase reduces the opsonizing activity of immunoglobulin G and complement component C3b.

The effect of myeloperoxidase, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and a halide (Cl) on the opsonizing molecules in immunoglobulin G (IgG) and complement factor C3b was assayed. At concentrations of the enzyme (1 microgram/ml) that can be found in the extracellular fluid during inflammation, the myeloperoxidase-H2O2-Cl system inhibited the opsonizing effect of IgG and C3b measured as phagocytic uptake and superoxide generation. The effect was related to the enzymatic peroxidative activity of the protein. The presence of albumin (10 mg/ml) reduced the effect of myeloperoxidase with 10-20%. Taurine, which in the presence of myeloperoxidase-H2O2-Cl forms hydrophilic chloramines, and D-penicillamine, which scavenges HOCl, neutralize the inhibitory effect of myeloperoxidase. This suggests that either hypochlorous acid or lipophilic chloramines may exert its effect by oxidizing free sulphydryl groups exposed on the opsonizing ligands. Since the myeloperoxidase-H2O2-halide system also affects chemotactic factors, leukotrienes, proteinases and membrane receptors, the system may in several ways affect the development of the inflammatory response.

Defective chemiluminescence response in differentiated HL60 cells due to impaired degranulation.

In the presence of dimethyl sulfoxide, the promyelocytic leukemic cell line, HL60, differentiates into apparently mature polymorphonuclear leukocytes. When correlating the superoxide production from HL60 cells with the number of phagocytozing and NBT-positive cells, no difference was observed in comparison with normal peripheral blood leukocytes. In contrast, the luminol-dependent chemiluminescence was greatly impaired in the differentiated HL60 cells. Analysis of degranulation, i.e., release of myeloperoxidase and N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase- and myeloperoxidase-mediated iodination by HL60 cells, suggested that the defective chemiluminescence response observed in HL60 cells may be due to impaired release of myeloperoxidase from azurophilic granulae. This may lead to impaired microbicidal activity in these cells.

Neutrophil control of formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine induced mobilization of secretory vesicles and NADPH-oxidase activation: effect of an association of the ligand-receptor complex to the cytoskeleton.

The stimulus formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP) interacts with neutrophils and generates signal(s) in the cells that induces mobilization of the secretory vesicles as well as activation of the superoxide anion/hydrogen peroxide generating NADPH-oxidase. Binding, at 15 degrees C, of FMLP to its neutrophil surface receptor is followed by an association of the ligand-receptor complex to the cell cytoskeleton, and this association occurs concomitant with a desensitization of the cells with respect to activation of the NADPH-oxidase. Other stimuli can still activate the oxidase (in fact even induce a primed response), indicating that the observed phenomenon is stimulus specific and could not be accounted for by an effect on the oxidase itself, but rather that the association of the ligand-receptor complex to the cytoskeleton eliminates the capacity of the complex to generate the signal(s) that activates the NADPH-oxidase. The cytoskeleton associated ligand-receptor complex generates, however, the signal(s) responsible for mobilization of the secretory vesicles, to the plasma membrane, and this mobilization occurs without any increase in the intracellular concentration of free Ca2+.

Activation of the oxygen-radical-generating system in granules of intact human neutrophils by a calcium ionophore (ionomycin).

Subcellular fractionation studies were performed on human neutrophils stimulated with ionomycin (a Ca(2+)-specific ionophore). The results of these studies revealed NADPH-oxidase activity, without any additive, both in the plasma membrane and in the specific granule fractions. After comparing these results with the NADPH oxidase activity induced by the ionophore in intact neutrophils, in differentiated HL-60 cells and in neutrophil cytoplasts, we conclude that ionomycin preferentially activates the NADPH oxidase pool located in the membrane of specific granules. Furthermore, we suggest that incorporation of granule membrane into the plasma membrane makes the associated NADPH oxidase less sensitive to activation induced by a rise in [Ca(2+)]i.

Particles binding beta(2)-integrins mediate intracellular production of oxidative metabolites in human neutrophils independently of phagocytosis.

Complement-opsonised particles are readily ingested by human neutrophils through a complement receptor-mediated process leading to phagolysosome fusion and production of oxidative metabolites. To investigate the complement receptor 3 (CR3)-associated signal system involved, cells were challenged with protein A-positive, heat-killed Staphylococcus aureus to which antibodies with specificity for the subunits of the beta(2)-integrins, i.e. anti-CD11b (the alpha subunit of CR3) and anti-CD18 (the beta subunit of CR3), were bound through their Fc moiety. Despite not being ingested by the neutrophils, the surface associated anti-CD18- and anti-CD11b-coated particles were able to activate the neutrophil NADPH-oxidase. Also anti-CD11a- (the alpha subunit of LFA-1) and to a lesser extent anti-CD11c- (the alpha subunit of CR4) coated particles were able to trigger the NADPH-oxidase. The NADPH-oxidase was activated without extracellular release of reactive oxygen species. The activity was inhibited by cytochalasin B, suggesting a necessary role for the cytoskeleton in the signalling pathway that activates the oxidase. We show that particle-mediated cross-linking of beta(2)-integrins on the neutrophil surface initiates a signalling cascade, involving cytoskeletal rearrangements, leading to an activation of the NADPH-oxidase without phagosome formation or extracellular release of reactive oxygen species.