Secretion of myeloperoxidase isoforms by human neutrophils.

The human neutrophil lysosomal enzyme, myeloperoxidase (MPO), exists in three major and chromatographically distinct forms, MPO I, MPO II, and MPO III. We used cation-exchange medium-pressure liquid chromatography and kinetic microenzyme assay (or spectrophotometric monitoring) to analyze the secretion of MPO isoforms by neutrophils exposed to N-formylmethionylleucylphenylalanine (FMLP), digitonin, the ionophore A23187, and serum-opsonized zymosan A (SOZ). All three MPO isomers were released into the fluid phase after neutrophils were exposed to these secretagogues. A significant proportional increase in MPO I was released when neutrophils were stimulated with SOZ. MPO I was released in higher proportions than found in the whole cell constituency when neutrophils were stimulated with FMLP + cytochalasin B, A23187, and digitonin, but this was not statistically significant.