Acute-Phase Protein α1-Antitrypsin Inhibits Neutrophil Calpain I and Induces Random Migration

A rapid recruitment of neutrophils to sites of injury or infection is a hallmark of the inflammatory response and is required for effective host cefense against pathogenic stimuli. However, neutrophil-mediated inflammation can also lead to chronic tissue destruction; therefore, a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying neutrophil influx and activation is of critical importance. We ha ye previously shown that the acute phase protein alpha 1-antitrypsin (AAT) inhibits neutrophil chemotaxis. In this study, we examine mechanisms related to the effect of AAT on neutrophil responses. We report a previously unknown function of AAT to inactivate calpain I (mu-calpain) and to induce a rapid cell polarization and random migration. These effects of AAT coincided with a transient rise in intracellular calcium, increase in intracellular lipids, activation of the Rho GTPases, Rac1 and Cdc42, and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2). Furthermore, AAT caused a significant inhibition of nonstimulated as well as formyl-metleu-phe (fMLP)-stimulated neutrophil adhesion to fibronectin, strongly inhibited lipopolysaccharide-induced IL-8 release and slightly delayed neutrophil apoptosis. The results presented here broaden our understanding of the regulation of calpain-related neutrophil functional activities, and provide the impetus for new studies to define the role of AAT and other acute phase proteins in health and disease. (C) 2011 The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, www.feinsteininstitute.org Online address: http://www.molmed.org doi: 10.2119/molmed.2011.00089