Defective signal transduction in CD4-CD8- T cells of lpr mice

Mice homozygous for the lpr gene develop a lymphoproliferative disorder due to expansion of a subset of CD4-CD8- T cells. Triggering of the T-cell receptor in these lpr T cells does not lead to translocation of protein kinase C or phosphorylation of CD3, interleukin-2 production, or proliferation, whereas a combination of phorbol ester and calcium ionophore does. Stimulation with concanavalin A or anti-CD3 induces phosphoinositide hydrolysis. The rise in inositol bisphosphate, inositol triphosphate, and inositol tetrakisphosphate, identified by HPLC, is similar in +/+ and lpr T cells. The concentration of cytoplasmic free calcium ([Ca2+]i), however, under basal and stimulated conditions is significantly lower in lpr T cells. The lower basal [Ca2+]i may explain why induction of proliferation with phorbol ester and calcium ionophore requires a higher concentration of ionophore in these cells than in normal T cells. The lower [Ca2+]i obtained on stimulation may contribute to the activation defect of CD4-CD8- lpr T cells.