Enhancement of chemiluminescence of the neutrophils by low concentrations of trifluoperazine.

One to 10 microM trifluoperazine was found to potentiate luminol-dependent chemiluminescence of neutrophils induced by n-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenyalanine. It did not potentiate chemiluminescence induced by A23187 or by phorbor myristate acetate. Low concentrations of another calmodulin antagonist N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalenesulfonamide, an intracellular Ca++ antagonist 8-(N,N-diethylamino)-octyl-3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate, and a local anesthetic dibucaine, were found to possess similar activity. It is suggested that trifluoperazine potentiates chemiluminescence by acting on certain cellular processes that follow after stimulation by n-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine, but not by A23187 or by phorbor myristate acetate, and that this effect may be calmodulin-independent.