title: Mitogen-induced oscillations of cytosolic Ca2+ and transmembrane Ca2+ current in human leukemic T cells.
abstract: A rapid rise in the level of cytosolic free calcium ([Ca2+]i) is believed to be one of several early triggering signals in the activation of T lymphocytes by antigen. Although Ca2+ release from intracellular stores and its contribution to Ca2+ signaling in many cell types is well documented, relatively little is known regarding the role and mechanism of Ca2+ entry across the plasma membrane. We have investigated mitogen-triggered Ca2+ signaling in individual cells of the human T-leukemia-derived line, Jurkat, using fura-2 imaging and patch-clamp recording techniques. Phytohemagglutinin (PHA), a mitogenic lectin, induces repetitive [Ca2+]i oscillations in these cells peaking at micromolar levels with a period of 90-120 s. The oscillations depend critically upon Ca2+ influx across the plasma membrane, as they are rapidly terminated by removal of extracellular Ca2+, addition of Ca(2+)-channel blockers such as Ni2+ or Cd2+, or membrane depolarization. Whole-cell and perforated-patch recording methods were combined with fura-2 measurements to identify the mitogen-activated Ca2+ conductance involved in this response. A small, highly selective Ca2+ conductance becomes activated spontaneously in whole-cell recordings and in response to PHA in perforated-patch experiments. This conductance has properties consistent with a role in T-cell activation, including activation by PHA, lack of voltage-dependent gating, inhibition by Ni2+ or Cd2+, and regulation by intracellular Ca2+. Moreover, a tight temporal correlation between oscillations of Ca2+ conductance and [Ca2+]i suggests a role for the membrane Ca2+ conductance in generating [Ca2+]i oscillations in activated T cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Biophysics, California College of Medicine, University of California, Irvine 92717.
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Cahalan
mesh_terms: D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D003600:Cytosol / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004563:Electrochemistry; D006801:Humans; D015458:Leukemia, T-Cell / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D008934:Mitogens; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D002118:Calcium