Signal transduction by interleukin 2 in human T cells: activation of tyrosine and ribosomal S6 kinases and cell-cycle regulatory genes.

The early events of signal transduction associated with interleukin-2 (IL-2) binding to its receptor were examined using a human IL-2 dependent T-cell line, Kit225. Cell cycle analysis showed that 90% of Kit225 cells were in the G0/G1 phase after a 72-hr incubation in the absence of exogenous IL-2. At this point, stimulation of the cells with IL-2 resulted in the rapid initiation of RNA and DNA synthesis by 9 and 20 hr, respectively. Within 5 min after addition of IL-2, rapid activation of tyrosine and ribosomal S6 kinases was detected. Addition of IL-2 also increased mRNA levels for c-fos, c-myc, IL-2 receptor alpha, and IL-2 receptor beta chain. These events increased in the absence of detectable changes in free cytosolic [Ca2+]i, inositol phosphate metabolism, or the activity of several kinases including cAMP-dependent protein kinase, Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase, or protein kinase C. These findings demonstrate that the signals triggered by IL-2 binding to its receptors are quickly transduced into the nucleus with increased mRNA transcription of activation-associated genes. Furthermore, the data indicate that tyrosine and ribosomal S6 kinases may be important for IL-2-induced cell growth.