Taxol inhibits N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP)-induced human neutrophil polarization and H2O2 production while decreasing [3H]FMLP binding.

We have studied the effect of taxol on two N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP)-induced neutrophil functions and the possible mechanism by which it inhibits these functions. Taxol inhibited FMLP-induced human neutrophil polarization (a characteristic change in neutrophil shape in response to a chemotactic stimulus) and H2O2 generation. Taxol also decreased the specific binding of [3H]FMLP to human neutrophils at 4 degrees C. The decreased binding of FMLP to its receptor may be responsible for the inhibition by taxol of FMLP-induced polarization and H2O2 generation.