An accessory cell-derived costimulatory signal acts independently of protein kinase C activation to allow T cell proliferation and prevent the induction of unresponsiveness.

Presentation of Ag to type I CD4+ T cell clones by chemically fixed APC results in the induction of a long-lasting state of proliferative unresponsiveness in the T cell. Ag-specific TCR interactions do occur during this stimulation, as Ag- and Ia molecule-dependent increases in intracellular calcium free ion concentration can be demonstrated, yet free inositol phosphate generation is low and neither IL-2 synthesis nor proliferation occur. The addition of normal allogeneic accessory cells during this stimulation can restore the T cell proliferative response, as well as prevent the induction of unresponsiveness, thus defining an accessory cell-dependent costimulatory activity necessary for proliferation. We have now examined the biochemical effects of this costimulatory activity on early T cell activation. Normal accessory cell costimulatory activity was found to be incapable of augmenting the generation of free inositol phosphate in response to either fixed APC plus Ag or Con A alone. Furthermore, protein kinase C-dependent CD3 gamma-chain phosphorylation occurred in response to either fixed APC plus Ag or Con A alone, and the addition of normal accessory cells had no effect on the level of this phosphorylation. Finally, minimal CD3 zeta-chain tyrosine phosphorylation occurred during the induction of unresponsiveness with Ag and fixed APC alone and this also was not affected by the costimulatory activity. Our results demonstrate that T cell Ag receptor-mediated increases in intracellular calcium free ion concentration and protein kinase C activation occur independently of an accessory cell-derived costimulatory signal. In the absence of this costimulatory signal, these two intracellular second messengers are insufficient to induce a maximal proliferative response and in fact lead to a state of unresponsiveness.