Regulation by sphingomyelinase and sphingosine of Ca2+ signals elicited by CD3 monoclonal antibody, thapsigargin, or ionomycin in the Jurkat T cell line.

Sphingomyelinase induces a marked rapid decrease of cytosolic Ca2+ concentration in Jurkat T cells treated with either CD3 monoclonal antibody; the Ca(2+)-ATPase inhibitor, thapsigargin; or the Ca2+ ionophore, ionomycin. Sphingomyelinase treatment of Jurkat cells results in a net decrease of cellular sphingomyelin content. Among the products generated by the catabolism of sphingomyelin, sphingosine displayed exactly the same effect as sphingomyelinase. Sphingosine decreases the cytosolic Ca2+ concentration in cells treated with CD3, thapsigargin, or ionomycin. Studying the effect of sphingosine in CD3-activated cells showed that this compound does not modify Ca2+ mobilization from intracellular stores but strongly inhibited the Ca2+ influx induced by the monoclonal antibody. The fact that sphingosine inhibits Ca2+ influx generated by thapsigargin and ionomycin supports the hypothesis that the drug activates the Ca2+ extrusion process. Derivatives of sphingosine such as erythrosphinganine and threosphinganine share the same inhibitory properties.