Central Role for G Protein-Coupled Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase γ in Inflammation

Abstract

Phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) activity is crucial for leukocyte function, but the roles of the four receptor-activated isoforms are unclear. Mice lacking heterotrimeric guanine nucleotide-binding protein (G protein)–coupled PI3Kγ were viable and had fully differentiated neutrophils and macrophages. Chemoattractant-stimulated PI3Kγ −/− neutrophils did not produce phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate, did not activate protein kinase B, and displayed impaired respiratory burst and motility. Peritoneal PI3Kγ-null macrophages showed a reduced migration toward a wide range of chemotactic stimuli and a severely defective accumulation in a septic peritonitis model. These results demonstrate that PI3Kγ is a crucial signaling molecule required for macrophage accumulation in inflammation.