Inhibition of cell movement and associated changes by hexachlorocyclohexanes due to unregulated intracellular calcium increases

Hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCCHs) are potent stimulators of polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) oxidative metabolism and of mobilization of calcium from intracellular stores. It was of interest, therefore, to evaluate the effect of HCCHs on PMN orientation and chemotaxis and to determine their effectiveness as chemotaxins. Chemotaxis was evaluated using micro-Boyden chambers, f-actin was quantitated by nitrobenzoxadiazole (NBD)-phallacidin fluorescence, and microtubules were quantitated by observing the concanavalin A (Con A) capping phenomenon. We also evaluated changes in intracellular calcium [Ca2+]i using quin 2 fluorescence. We found that the HCCH isomers were not chemotaxins and that the HCCH isomers that stimulated O2- formation (delta and gamma HCCH) inhibited chemotaxis. This effect was associated with inhibition of orientation. In addition, we found extensive inhibition of both f-actin and Con A cap formation. These effects of HCCH on cell function were associated with marked increases of [Ca2+]i. This work suggests that non-receptor-mediated increases of [Ca2+]i associated with HCCH have divergent effects on cell function and suggests that physiologic responses of PMNs requiring cytoskeletal alterations, such as chemotaxis, depend on the controlled responses of receptor-mediated stimulation.