Pertussis toxin inhibits human neutrophil responses mediated by the 42-kilodalton IgG Fc receptor.

The effects of pertussis toxin (PT) on human neutrophil responses mediated by the 42-kDa IgG Fc R (Fc gamma R42) were compared with its effects on responses mediated by the FMLP receptor. Pre-treatment of neutrophils with PT completely inhibited FMLP stimulation of superoxide production and blocked over 95% of FMLP-stimulated degranulation. PT inhibited superoxide production stimulated by Fc gamma R42 cross-linking by 92%. In contrast, degranulation stimulated by Fc gamma R42 was only partially inhibited, with beta-glucuronidase release inhibited by 54%, lysozyme by 33%, and lactoferrin by 78%. With either stimulus, PT inhibition was maximal in the range from 1.8 to 2 micrograms/ml. Responses to both stimuli declined in a parallel fashion with increasing time of exposure to PT with maximal inhibition occurring after 2 h of exposure. Inhibition of FMLP responses and Fc gamma R42-mediated superoxide production, but not degranulation, correlated with ADP-ribosylation of a 45-kDa membrane protein. Inhibition by PT of Fc gamma R42-mediated responses was not due to a change in receptor number. These data suggest that activation of polymorphonuclear neutrophils via Fc gamma R42 proceeds through two pathways, only one of which is regulated by a PT-sensitive G protein.

Monoclonal antibody to human IgG Fc receptors. Cross-linking of receptors induces lysosomal enzyme release and superoxide generation by neutrophils.

The monoclonal antibody KuFc79 binds to a determinant on the Fc receptors (Fc gamma R) of human leukocytes. We examined the biologic effects of the interaction of this antibody with Fc gamma R on human neutrophils (PMNL). The univalent Fab fragment of KuFc79 inhibits the formation of rosettes with IgG-sensitized sheep erythrocytes by as much as 91.7%. In other experiments in which PMNL were washed after exposure to Fab of KuFc79, phagocytosis of IgG-sensitized sheep erythrocytes was inhibited by 36%. Fab fragments of other mouse IgG2b monoclonal proteins did not have these effects. When PMNL are exposed to coverslips coated with univalent Fab fragments of this antibody, the Fc gamma R are removed from the surface of the PMNL. Under these conditions, rosetting could be inhibited by 85.4%. We examined cross-linking of receptor bound monoclonal antibody or its Fab fragment by either Protein A or F(ab')2 of an anti-mouse Ig. As much as 31.7% of beta-glucuronidase, a marker for lysosomal enzymes, is specifically released by cross-linking the Fc gamma R on PMNL. The generation of O2- is also induced by specifically cross-linking Fc gamma R with Fab and anti-Fab. The data constitute the first formal demonstration that cross-linking of Fc gamma R on PMNL leads to enzyme release and superoxide generation.