Production of inositol phosphates and reactive oxygen metabolites in quartz-dust-stimulated human polymorphonuclear leukocytes

The present paper explores phosphoinositide turnover in quartz-stimulated human polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Separation of inositol phosphates was carried out with a new ion-pair, reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatographic method applying a gentle tetrabutylammonium phosphate buffer gradient. The method separates inositol monophosphates, inositol 1,4-bisphosphate, inositol trisphosphates and inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate. Reactive oxygen metabolites, indices for leukocyte activation, were measured with a luminometric assay. Quartz increased the production of reactive oxygen metabolites, preceded by facilitated inositol phosphate turnover. This finding provides evidence that inositol phosphate second messengers may be involved in quartz-induced leukocyte activation and subsequent production of reactive oxygen metabolites.