A proposed model for chemotactic deactivation: evidence for microtubule modulation of polymorphonuclear leukocyte chemotaxis.

Incubation of the CFs Gly-His-Glyc or CCF with PMNs in the absence of a gradient, resulted in a dose-dependent depression in chemotactic activity when, after washing, the cells were challenged with the CFs in a Boyden chamber. When the cells were preincubated with either CF and suitable concentrations of colchicine, the inhibition of chemotaxis that either of these agents induced when incubated with the cells alone was abolished. Deactivation reappeared when the optimal ratio between colchicine and CF was altered in either direction. Ultramicroscopic studies showed an increase in centriole-associated microtubules following incubation of cells with CFs. This increase was arrested by prior exposure of the cells to colchicine. Colchicine did not alter the specific binding of CCF to human neutrophils, and lumicolchicine had no effect on either chemotaxis or deactivation. Our data suggest that the control of PMN chemotaxis is predicted upon microtubule assembly evoked by cell interaction with a chemotactic gradient. Chemotaxis would be prevented by conditions that inappropriately organize responsive microtubules in either a polymerized or depolymerized configuration.