Enhanced hydroperoxide production by peripheral blood leukocytes following exposure of murine epidermis to 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate

Abstract

Previous studies have shown that the phorbol ester tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) stimulates phagocytic leukocytes to produce reactive oxygen intermediates in vitro. The present studies focused on the production of reactive oxygen intermediates by peripheral blood leukocyte cell populations following in vivo exposure of murine epidermis to TPA. TPA induced a dose-dependent (0.2-20 micrograms) increase in polymorphonuclear cells (PMN) that appeared to be recruited from the marginal pools, while simultaneously decreasing the number of peripheral blood mononuclear cells. These alterations were detected as early as 2 h following topical application of TPA and persisted over a 21 day time period, using a twice-weekly TPA treatment schedule. The oxidation of 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin (DCFH) was used to examine the hydroperoxide production in peripheral blood PMN isolated from SENCAR mice treated with TPA. TPA stimulated a 2-fold increase in PMN-associated DCFH oxidation (645.4 +/- 118 fmol DCF) 4 h after topical application of 10 micrograms TPA when compared to PMN isolated from acetone-treated mice (339.0 +/- 35.8 fmol DCF). These observations suggest that topical application of TPA recruits PMN that are activated prior to their infiltration into the epidermis. Given the ability of these cells to migrate to local sites, they may serve as a primed cell population that significantly contributes to cutaneous alterations observed during acute and chronic inflammation following TPA exposure.