The effect of new potent selective inhibitors of protein kinase C on the neutrophil respiratory burst.

New potent inhibitors of protein kinase C were found to inhibit protein kinase C isolated from rat brain and human neutrophils, with a large degree of selectivity over cAMP-dependent kinase and Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent kinase. These novel compounds were potent inhibitors of the fluoride, diC8- and formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine-mediated respiratory bursts in intact neutrophils. The opsonized zymosan-stimulated burst was only marginally affected by the compounds. These results differ from those obtained in studies with H7 and CI, (which are less potent and less specific protein kinase C inhibitors) and are consistent with the hypothesis that protein kinase C has a role in the transduction mechanism for the neutrophil oxidative burst stimulated with fluoride, formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine and diC8.