Mitogens trigger a calcium-independent signal for proliferation in phorbol-ester-treated lymphocytes

Erwin W. Gelfand, Roy K. Cheung, Gordon B. Mills, Sergio Grinstein

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

65 Scopus citations

Abstract

The activation of T lymphocytes by mitogens requires at least two signals; the first, delivered to T cells by a mitogen in conjunction with accessory cells (monocytes/macrophages), leads to the generation of the second signal, interleukin-2 (IL-2). The first signal also induces the expression of IL-2 receptors on the surface of a subpopulation of T cells; binding of IL-2 to its receptor then initiates a cascade of events culminating in DNA synthesis by these cells1-4. Certain compounds act synergistically with mitogens in promoting T-cell proliferation by substituting for the activities of interacting cells or their products. For example, the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol 13-acetate (TPA) has been shown to restore the ability of macrophage-depleted T-cell populations to respond to mitogenic lectins5-7. Transmembrane fluxes of calcium, leading to increased free cytosolic calcium concentrations ([Ca2+]i), have been demonstrated following mitogen binding to lymphocytes and have been implicated in the initiation of cell proliferation8-10. We show here that the effect of TPA on lymphocyte proliferation occurs in the absence of extracellular Ca2+ or detectable changes in [Ca2+]i, but only in the presence of mitogens. This suggests that in cells which have been incubated with the phorbol ester, mitogens can induce proliferation by a calcium-independent signal.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)419-420
Number of pages2
JournalNature
Volume315
Issue number6018
DOIs
StatePublished - 1985
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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