Critical role of phospholipase Cγ2 in integrin and Fc receptor-mediated neutrophil functions and the effector phase of autoimmune arthritis

beta(2) integrins and Fc gamma receptors are critically involved in neutrophil activation at the site of inflammation. Both receptor types trigger a receptor-proximal tyrosine phosphorylation cascade through Src family kinases and Syk, but further downstream signaling events are poorly understood. We show that phospholipase C (PLC) gamma 2 is phosphorylated downstream of Src family kinases and Syk during integrin or Fc receptor-mediated activation of neutrophils. PLC gamma 2(-/-) neutrophils are completely defective in beta(2) integrin or Fc gamma receptor-mediated functional responses such as respiratory burst, degranulation, or cell spreading in vitro and show reduced adhesion/spreading in inflamed capillary venules in vivo. However, PLC gamma 2(-/-) neutrophils respond normally to various other agonists, including chemokines, bacterial formyl peptides, Toll-like receptor ligands, or proinflammatory cytokines, and migrate normally both in vitro and in vivo. To confirm the in vivo relevance of these observations, the effect of the PLC gamma 2(-/-) mutation was tested in the K/BxN serum transfer arthritis model, which is known to require beta(2) integrins, Fc gamma receptors, and neutrophils. PLC gamma 2 deficiency completely protected mice from clinical signs and histological features of arthritis as well as from arthritis-induced loss of articular function. These results identify PLC gamma 2 as a critical player of integrin and Fc receptor-mediated neutrophil functions and the neutrophil-mediated effector phase of autoimmune arthritis.