Tumour necrosis factor beta (lymphotoxin) inhibits locomotion and stimulates the respiratory burst and degranulation of neutrophils

The data presented here demonstrate that recombinant human tumour necrosis factor beta (rHuTNFβ; lymphotoxin) is a neutrophil modulator. The lymphokine inhibited the locomotion of neutrophils and augmented the neutrophil oxygen-dependent respiratory burst in response to N-formyl-L-methionyl-L-leucyl-L-phenylalanine (FMLP) and phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), as measured by their capacity to produce chemiluminescence, H₂O₂ and superoxide. The effects on the respiratory burst occurred at a tenth of the concentration of TNFβ required to inhibit locomotion. After incubation with TNFβ, the neutrophils could be washed without any reduction in their capacity to show augmented responses. The TNFβ enhanced granule enzyme (lysozyme and β-glucuronidase) release of neutrophils stimulated with cytochalasin B-FMLP.