Myeloperoxidase mediates neutrophil activation by association with CD11b/CD18 integrins.

Recruitment and activation of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) reflects a primary immunological response to invading pathogens and has also emerged as a hallmark of vascular inflammation. One of the principal enzymes released upon PMN activation is myeloperoxidase (MPO), a heme protein that not only generates cytotoxic oxidants but also impacts deleteriously on nitric oxide-dependent signaling cascades within the vasculature. Because MPO also associates with the membrane of PMN, we evaluated whether MPO could also function as an autocrine modulator of PMN activation. The extent of PMN membrane-associated MPO was elevated in patients with acute inflammatory vascular disease compared with…