Differential regulation by dexamethasone and cyclosporine of human T cells activated by various stimuli.

Calcium ionophores such as ionomycin (IONO), CD3 antibody (CD3), or CD28 antibody (CD28) have been shown to stimulate T cells in a quite different fashion. However, each stimulator induces full activation of resting T cells in the presence of phorbol myristate acetate. Human T cells were activated with PMA + CD3, PMA + IONO, or PMA + CD28 and the inhibitory effects of dexamethasone (DEX) and cyclosporine were examined on [3H]-TdR incorporation, IL-2 production, and IL-2 receptor expression. Three inhibition patterns emerged: PMA + CD3 stimulation was DEX-sensitive and CsA-sensitive, PMA + IONO stimulation was CsA-sensitive but DEX-resistant, PMA + CD28 stimulation was DEX-sensitive but CsA-resistant. Although the degree of inhibition by DEX and CsA was different in [3H] TdR incorporation, IL-2 production, and IL-2 receptor expression assays, the inhibitory pattern of these drugs was similar in each of the assays, indicating that human T cell activation is differentially regulated by DEX and CsA depending on the stimulator.