IL-2 secretion is pertussis toxin sensitive in a T lymphocyte hybridoma

Interaction of specific ligands with TCR initiates a cascade of biochemical events which leads to expression of high affinity IL-2R and subsequent IL-2 secretion. Activation of phospholipase C (PL-C) is considered to be a key event in the initiation of this cascade. However, in addition to this PL-C-dependent pathway, PL-C-independent pathways have been hypothesized. Identification of the steps constituting these PL-C-independent pathways has been difficult because activation of PL-C and the subsequent cascade of events mask the effects of such pathways. Specific inhibitors for PL-C, or mutants defective in, the PL-C pathway would facilitate delineation of alternative activation pathways. We have identified a murine pork insulin/IAd-specific T cell hybridoma, B8P3.11, in which perturbation of the B8P3.11 TCR by either Ag in association with Ia, anti-CD3 antibodies, or a mitogenic lectin does not induce increases in myo-inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate production or cytosolic free calcium, yet it does lead to IL-2 secretion. Treatment of B8P3.11 with pertussis toxin, at concentrations which ADP-ribosylate GTP-binding proteins, inhibits IL-2 secretion. Thus, signal transduction resulting in IL-2 secretion by B8P3.11 likely involves a G protein. In contrast, TCR/ligand interaction activates the PL-C-dependent pathway in LBRM 331A5, a T cell lymphoma. Furthermore, pertussis toxin treatment, which blocks IL-2 secretion by B8P3.11, does not alter IL-2 secretion by LBRM 331A5. However, similar pertussis toxin substrates are present in both cells. Therefore, B8P3.11 T cells should help to elucidate PL-C-independent activation pathways.