Components of an antigen-/T cell receptor-independent pathway of lymphokine production

The general way to induce the synthesis of lymphokines by T cells is the stimulation through the T cell receptor (TcR) complex which results in an increase of intracellular [Ca2+] and in the activation of a tyrosine kinase as well as of protein kinase C. Lymphokine production induced via the TcR is inhibited by the immunosuppressive drug cyclosporin A (CsA). However, an alternative pathway of lymphokine production exists. Several T lymphocyte clones can synthesize interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), granulocyte-monocyte colony-stimulating factor, and small amounts of interleukin (IL3) when stimulated with syngeneic or allogeneic accessory cells (AC) plus IL2. In contrast to the TcR pathway the al…