Gastrin-CCK-B type receptors on human T lymphoblastoid Jurkat cells

The presence of specific receptors for gastrointestinal hormones on T cells and their involvement in the immune response are still matters of debate. We reported the effects of gastrin-cholecystokinin (CCK)-related peptides on J.RT3-T3.5 Jurkat cells. A single class of high-affinity binding sites (dissociation constant approximately 0.1 nM) for gastrin and CCK-8 was evident on these cells. These peptides dose-dependently induced a transient increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i), which was independent of extracellular Ca2-. L-365,260 was 150- to 300-fold more potent than L-364,718 to inhibit radiolabeled ligand binding or peptide-stimulated [Ca2+]i increase, confirming the gastrin-CCK-B nature of the receptor. Gastrin caused a rise in inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate [Ins(1,4,5)P3] level within 5 s of stimulation. Finally, gastrin increased interleukin (IL)-2 secretion in J.RT3-T3.5 cells. We conclude that 1) J.RT3-T3.5 cells possess "gastrin-CCK-B type" receptors coupled to phospholipase C activation, Ins(1,4,5)P3 formation, and Ca2+ release from intracellular Ca2+ pools, and 2) these receptors could be involved in the regulation of IL-2 production.