Pertussis toxin inhibits the rise in the intracellular concentration of free calcium that is induced by chemotactic factors in rabbit neutrophils: possible role of the "G proteins" in calcium mobilization.

The addition of pertussis toxin to rabbit neutrophils inhibits the rise in the intracellular concentration of free calcium induced by the chemotactic factors fMet-Leu-Phe and leukotriene B4. At high concentrations of fMet-Leu-Phe, the inhibitory effect of the toxin is more on the stimulus-induced increase in membrane permeability to calcium than on calcium mobilization from internal stores. These results suggest that the "G protein" system either directly or indirectly is involved in the regulation of the stimulus-induced changes in the calcium mobilization and/or gating systems.