Mechanisms of Interleukin-2-Mediated Signaling and role of Calcium in T cell Mitogenesis

Abstract
In T lymphocytes stimulated by concanavalin A (Con A), interleukin 2 (IL-2) acts on the late G1 stage of the cell cycle. Ca2+ uptake by T cells was not enhanced with the stimulation of Con A (initiation) or IL-2 (late G1 stage), but Ca2+ requirement was observed at the two stages. These results indicate that the enhancement of Ca2+ uptake is not necessary, but intracellular Ca2+ may act as an important messenger in T cell mitogenesis.