Platelet-Activating Factor-Mediated Endosome Formation Causes Membrane Translocation of p67phox and p40phox That Requires Recruitment and Activation of p38 MAPK, Rab5a, and Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase in Human Neutrophils1

Neutrophils (polymorphonuclear leukocytes, PMNs) are vital to innate immunity and receive proinflammatory signals that activate G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Because GPCRs transduce signals through clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME), we hypothesized that platelet-activating factor (PAF), an effective chemoattractant that primes the PMN oxidase, would signal through CME, specifically via dynamin-2 activation and endosomal formation resulting in membrane translocation of cytosolic phagocyte oxidase (phox) proteins. PMNs were incubated with buffer or 2 μM PAF for 1–3 min, and in some cases activated with PMA, and O2− was measured, whole-cell lysates and subcellular fractions were prepared, or the PMNs were fixed onto slides for digital or electron microscopy. PAF caused activation of dynamin-2, resulting in endosomal formation that required PI3K and contained early endosomal Ag-1 (EEA-1) and Rab5a. The apoptosis signal-regulating kinase-1/MAPK kinase-3/p38 MAPK signalosome assembled on Rab5a and phosphorylated EEA-1 and Rab GDP dissociation inhibitor, with the latter causing Rab5a activation. Electron microscopy demonstrated that PAF caused two distinct sites for activation of p38 MAPK. EEA-1 provided a scaffold for recruitment of the p40phox-p67phox complex and PI3K-dependent Akt1 phosphorylation of these two phox proteins. PAF induced membrane translocation of p40phox-p67phox localizing to gp91phox, which was PI3K-, but not p47phox-, dependent. In conclusion, PAF transduces signals through CME, and such GPCR signaling may allow for pharmacological manipulation of these cells to decrease PMN-mediated acute organ injury.