Perturbation of beta -glucan receptors of human neutrophils initiates phagocytosis and leukotriene beta sub(4) production

Normal human neutrophils were stimulated with the yeast cell wall product, zymosan, and examined for two biologic responses, ingestion of particles and production of leukotriene B sub(4) (LTB sub(4)), under conditions that were comparable and optimal for the quantitation of each response. The results show that neutrophil production of LTB sub(4) is initiated by the same beta -glucan receptors in terms of trypsin sensitivity and yeast constituent as that which triggers phagocytosis of unopsonized zymosan particles, but these two responses are regulated by different particle-dependent post-receptor mechanisms.