Effect of botulinum D toxin on neutrophils

Abstract

Activated botulinum D toxin ADP-ribosylates a 22 kDa molecular weight protein in homogenates obtained by sonication of a suspension of rabbit peritoneal neutrophils. The ADP-ribosylation catalyzed by activated botulinum D toxin is inhibited in homogenates obtained from cells pretreated with the toxin, suggesting that it is able to enter into these cells and be activated by them. The rise in intracellular concentration of free calcium in toxin treated cells stimulated by fMet-Leu-Phe is similar to that found in control cells. The basal concentration of intracellular free calcium is significantly elevated in neutrophils treated with the intact but not with the activated form of the botulinum D toxin. Superoxide generation in control and native toxin treated cells stimulated with fMet-leu-Phe, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate or opsonized zymosan is the same. The release of beta-glucosaminidase produced by fMet-Leu-Phe or Concanavalin A in botulinum D toxin treated neutrophils was slightly higher than the corresponding release in control cells. Furthermore, the fMet-Leu-Phe-induced increase in the amount of actin associated with the cytoskeleton is not inhibited by botulinum D toxin. These results suggest that the 22 kDa protein which can be ADP-ribosylated by botulinum D toxin is not involved in these stimulated neutrophil responses.