Mapping of the C5a Receptor Signal Transduction Network in Human Neutrophils

• Published in: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS Vol. 91; no. 19; pp. 9190 - 9194
• Main Authors: Buhl, Anne Mette, Avdi, Natalie, Worthen, G. Scott, Johnson, Gary L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 13-09-1994; National Acad Sciences; National Academy of Sciences
• Subjects: Biochemistry; Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases - physiology; Chemotactic factors; Chemotaxis, Leukocyte; Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases - physiology; Enzyme Activation; GTP-Binding Proteins - physiology; Guanine nucleotides; Humans; Immunity (Disease); In Vitro Techniques; Ligation; Neutrophils; Neutrophils - physiology; Phorbol Esters - pharmacology; Phosphorylation; Physiological regulation; Protease inhibitors; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases - physiology; Proteins; Proto-Oncogene Proteins - physiology; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-raf; Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras) - metabolism; Receptor, Anaphylatoxin C5a; Receptors; Receptors, Complement - physiology; Signal Transduction
• ISSN: 0027-8424; 1091-6490
• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.91.19.9190

Human neutrophils respond to chemoattractants, resulting in their accumulation at an inflammatory site. Chemoattractants such as the C5a peptide, derived from the C5 complement factor, bind to inhibitory guanine nucleotide binding protein (Gi)-coupled seven membrane-spanning receptors expressed in neutrophils. C5a receptor activation results in the Gi-dependent activation of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathway in human neutrophils. C5a receptor ligation activates both B-Raf and Raf-1, with B-Raf activation overlapping but temporally distinct from that of Raf-1. B-Raf and Raf-1 both efficiently phosphorylate MAP kinase kinase (MEK-1). C5a also stimulates guanine nucleotide exchange and activation of Ras. Ras and Raf activation in response to C5a involves protein kinase C-dependent and -independent pathways. Activation of both Raf-1 and B-Raf was inhibited by protein kinase A stimulation, consistent with the inhibitory effects of increased cAMP levels on neutrophil function. The findings define a functional signal transduction pathway linking the neutrophil C5a chemoattractant receptor to the regulation of Ras, B-Raf, Raf-1, and MAP kinase.