Activation and proliferation signals in mouse B cells. VII. Calcium ionophores are non-mitogenic polyclonal B-cell activators.

Calcium ionophores cause polyclonal proliferation of lymphocytes from man, rabbit and pig, but are not mitogenic for mouse T or B lymphocytes. We show here that two Ca2+ ionophores (A23187 and ionomycin) nonetheless activate a substantial proportion of mouse B lymphocytes at concentrations which effectively inhibit DNA synthesis induced by conventional mitogens, such as anti-immunoglobulin antibodies. Activation of B cells was detected by (i) increased expression of Ia antigen after 24 hr culture with ionophores, and (ii) the accelerated onset of DNA synthesis in B cells primed with ionophores for 24 hr, washed and then rechallenged with anti-Ig. Unlike anti-Ig, the ionophores did not induce either the breakdown of inositol phospholipids, or RNA synthesis in B cells. Finally, activation of B cells by ionophores is highly susceptible to inhibition by cyclosporine. These results therefore suggest that elevation of intracellular Ca2+ induced by these ionophores is sufficient to cause B cells to leave Go, but not to enter the G1 phase of the cell cycle. Clearly, additional signals are required for B cells to progress further into cycle and eventually become committed to DNA synthesis.