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GPR84 is a recently de-orphanized member of the G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) family recognizing medium chain fatty acids, and has been suggested to play important roles in inflammation. Due to the lack of potent and selective GPR84 ligands, the basic knowledge related to GPR84 functions is very limited. In this study, we have characterized the GPR84 activation profile and regulation mechanism in human phagocytes, using two recently developed small molecules that specifically target GPR84 agonistically (ZQ16) and antagonistically (GLPG1205), respectively. Compared to our earlier characterization of the short chain fatty acid receptor FFA2R which is functionally expressed in neutrophils but not in monocytes, GPR84 is expressed in both cell types and in monocyte-derived macrophages. In neutrophils, the GPR84 agonist had an activation profile very similar to that of FFA2R. The GPR84-mediated superoxide release was low in naïve cells, but the response could be significantly primed by TNFα and by the actin cytoskeleton disrupting agent Latrunculin A. Similar to that of FFA2R, a desensitization mechanism bypassing the actin cytoskeleton was utilized by GPR84. All ZQ16-mediated cellular responses were sensitive to GLPG1205, confirming the GPR84-dependency. Finally, our data of in vivo transmigrated tissue neutrophils indicate that both GPR84 and FFA2R are involved in neutrophil recruitment processes in vivo. In summary, we show functional similarities but also some important differences between GPR84 and FFA2R in human phagocytes, thus providing some mechanistic insights into GPR84 regulation in blood neutrophils and cells recruited to an aseptic inflammatory site in vivo.

Formyl peptide receptor 2 (FPR2) is a G protein-coupled pattern recognition receptor sensing both mitochondrial-and bacterialderived formylated peptides, including the PSMa toxins secreted by community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains. Similar to many other FPR2 agonistic peptides, nanomolar concentrations of both PSMa2 and PSMa3 activate neutrophils to increase the cytosolic concentration of Ca 2+ and release NADPH oxidase-derived reactive oxygen species. In addition, the PSMa peptides induce FPR2 homologous desensitization, actin polymerization, and neutrophil reactivation through a receptor cross-talk mechanism. However, in contrast to conventional FPR2 agonistic peptides, including the host-derived formyl peptide MCT-ND4, we found that the PSMa peptides lacked the ability to recruit b-arrestin and induce neutrophil chemotaxis, supporting the previous notion that b-arrestin translocation is of importance for cell migration. Despite the lack of b-arrestin recruitment, the PSMa peptides induced an FPR2-dependent ERK1/2 phosphorylation and internalization. Furthermore, structure-activity relationship analysis with PSMa2 derivatives revealed critical roles of the first 3 aa linked to N-fMet as well as the C terminus of PSMa2 in promoting FPR2 to recruit b-arrestin. In summary, our data demonstrate a novel neutrophil activation pattern upon FPR2 sensing of PSMa peptides, signified by the ability to induce increased intracellular Ca 2+ , ERK1/2 phosphorylation, internalization, and NADPH oxidase activity, yet lack of b-arrestin recruitment and neutrophil chemoattraction. These novel features adopted by the PSMa peptides could be of importance for S. aureus virulence and might facilitate identification of new therapeutic strategies for treating S. aureus infections.

c Ligands with improved potency and selectivity for free fatty acid receptor 2 (FFA2R) have become available, and we here characterize the neutrophil responses induced by one such agonist (Cmp1) and one antagonist (CATPB). Cmp1 triggered an increase in the cytosolic concentration of Ca 2؉ , and the neutrophils were then desensitized to Cmp1 and to acetate, a naturally occurring FFA2R agonist. The antagonist CATPB selectively inhibited responses induced by Cmp1 or acetate. The activated FFA2R induced superoxide anion secretion at a low level in naive blood neutrophils. This response was largely increased by tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-␣) in a process associated with a recruitment of easily mobilizable granules, but neutrophils recruited to an aseptic inflammation in vivo were nonresponding. Superoxide production induced by Cmp1 was increased in latrunculin Atreated neutrophils, but no reactivation of desensitized FFA2R was induced by this drug, suggesting that the cytoskeleton is not directly involved in terminating the response. The functional and regulatory differences between the receptors that recognize short-chain fatty acids and formylated peptides, respectively, imply different roles of these receptors in the orchestration of inflammation and confirm the usefulness of a selective FFA2R agonist and antagonist as tools for the exploration of the precise role of the FFA2R.