Chemoattractant cross-desensitization of the human neutrophil IL-8 receptor involves receptor internalization and differential receptor subtype regulation.

Human neutrophils undergo rapid homologous receptor desensitization following repeated stimulation with chemoattractants such as IL-8, C5a, and FMLP. It has also been demonstrated that cross-desensitization among these chemoattractant receptors occurs. We investigated the mechanisms underlying the cross-desensitization of responses to IL-8 induced by pretreatment with FMLP or C5a. In [125I]-labeled IL-8 binding studies we found that the cross-desensitization induced by FMLP or C5a was associated with a subsequent reduction in IL-8 binding to neutrophils. There was no recovery of [125I]-labeled IL-8 binding on removal of the C5a or FMLP pretreatment. FACS analysis using mAbs specific for the two IL-8R subtypes showed differential regulation of IL-8R A and IL-8R B cell surface expression after chemoattractant pretreatment. Homologous desensitization by IL-8 resulted in internalization of IL-8R A and IL-8R B, but only IL-8R A was completely re-expressed after removal of agonist. FMLP stimulation led to a substantial loss of IL-8R B from the cell surface, whereas C5a stimulation induced only a partial loss. In both cases there was no re-expression of IL-8R B on removal of the chemoattractant stimulation. C5a and FMLP did not affect IL-8R A expression. Calcium mobilization studies using melanoma growth stimulatory activity and IL-8 suggest that a sustained loss of IL-8R B may play a part in maintaining FMLP-induced IL-8R cross-desensitization. Chemoattractant-induced cross-desensitization of neutrophils may be of importance in regulating neutrophil accumulation during the inflammatory response in vivo.