Immune Netw.  2018 Aug;18(4):e26. 10.4110/in.2018.18.e26.

Thapsigargin Increases IL-2 Production in T Cells at Nanomolar Concentrations

• Kim KH
• Kim SH
• Jung HH
• Moon JH
• Jeong SU
• Yu K
• Lee CK

• KMID: 2419771
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4110/in.2018.18.e26

Abstract

Thapsigargin (TGN) is a potent and selective inhibitor of sarco-endoplasmic Ca²âº-ATPase, leading to rapid elevation of cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration. Previous reports have shown that TGN increases the production of various cytokines from macrophages and dendritic cells. Here, we examine the effects of TGN on murine T cells. Nanomolar concentrations of TGN are a significant inducer of IL-2 production with full activity at 50 nM. Micromolar concentrations of TGN, however, are inhibitory to IL-2 production and T cell proliferation. The IL-2 production-inducing activity of TGN is much more prominent when T cells are primed with concanavalin A or anti-CD3 mAb, and is due to the increase of cytoplasmic Ca²âº concentration. TGN at 50 nM does not affect interferon-gamma or IL-4 production from T cells. Thus, the present study shows that low nanomolar concentrations of TGN could be useful in potentiating IL-2 production from antigen-primed T cells.

Keyword

Thapsigargin; Cytoplasmic Ca²⁺; T cells; IL-2; Phorbol myristate acetate

MeSH Terms

Cell Proliferation
Concanavalin A
Cytokines
Cytoplasm
Dendritic Cells
Interferon-gamma
Interleukin-2*
Interleukin-4
Macrophages
T-Lymphocytes*
Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate
Thapsigargin*
Concanavalin A
Cytokines
Interferon-gamma
Interleukin-2
Interleukin-4
Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate
Thapsigargin