T cell receptor/CD3 and CD28 use distinct intracellular signaling pathways

R. A. van Lier, M. Brouwer, E. D. de Groot, I. Kramer, L. A. Aarden, A. J. Verhoeven

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38 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Ligation of the T cell membrane antigen CD28 strongly enhances cytokine secretion in human T lymphocytes that are activated via T cell receptor (TcR)/CD3 or CD2 molecules. This study was undertaken to investigate whether, as has been indicated for activation via TcR/CD3, stimulation via CD28 is dependent on the activation of protein kinase C (PKC). Two inhibitors of PKC, 1-alkyl 2-methyl-glycerol and staurosporine, caused a dose-dependent inhibition of T cell proliferation induced by anti-CD3 monoclonal antibodies (mAb). The induction of interleukin (IL) 2 secretion was found to be more sensitive to the effects of the PKC inhibitors than the up-regulation of IL 2 receptor expression. In marked contrast, the anti-CD28 mAb-mediated enhancement of T cell proliferation and IL 2 secretion were insensitive to the action of either compound. We conclude that two independent signaling pathways may be operational in human T cells. The first used by TcR/CD3 depends on the activation of PKC, whereas the second is employed by CD28 and functions independently of PKC
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1775-1778
JournalEuropean journal of immunology
Volume21
Issue number7
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1991

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