Characterization of the requirements for human T cell mitogenesis by using suboptimal concentrations of phytohemagglutinin

G. B. Mills, J. W.W. Lee, R. K. Cheung, E. W. Gelfand

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

68 Scopus citations

Abstract

To characterize the requirements for T cell proliferation, we have studied the response of purified populations of human T cells to varying concentrations of the mitogen phytohemagglutinin (PHA). Concentrations of PHA which induce optimal proliferative responses induce increases in cytosolic free calcium ([Ca2+](i)), expression of interleukin 2 (IL 2) receptors, and production of IL 2. As the concentration of PHA is decreased, each of these processes decreases in parallel. At suboptimal concentrations of PHA, the addition of exogenous IL 2 reconstitutes both the proliferative response and the expression of the IL 2 receptor, as measured by immunofluorescence with antibodies directed against the TAC/IL 2 receptor molecule, but without reconstituting the increase in [Ca2+](i). Therefore, the concentration dependence of responses to PHA appears to be secondary to an absence of IL 2 production due to a failure to induce an increase in [Ca2+](i). The addition of the calcium ionophores A23187 and ionomycin or of accessory cells to low concentrations of PHA induces increases in [Ca2+](i) and subsequent proliferative responses, suggesting that the two events are linked. The proliferative response can be inhibited by antibodies directed towards IL 2 or the IL 2 receptor, indicating that the proliferative response was at least partially dependent on the production and action of IL 2. This suggests that, although increases in [Ca2+](i) are an integral event in the induction of proliferation by PHA, the increase in [Ca2+](i) is required for the production but not the action of IL 2. In addition, low concentrations of PHA deliver an additional signal to cells, independent of an increase in [Ca2+](i), which induces IL 2 receptor expression and allows a proliferative response in the presence of exogenous IL 2.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)3087-3093
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Immunology
Volume135
Issue number5
StatePublished - 1985
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Immunology

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