MOBILIZATION OF INTRACELLULAR CA2+ BY ADENINE-NUCLEOTIDES IN HUMAN T-LEUKEMIA CELLS - EVIDENCE FOR ADP-SPECIFIC AND P-2Y-PURINERGIC RECEPTORS

The expression of purinergic receptors on human T-cells was investigated and the receptors were shown to be functionally coupled to intracellular signals in two out of eight T-leukaemia cell-lines. Addition of adenine nucleotides resulted in mobilization of intracellular Ca2+ in HPB-ALL cells and a cell line (CB1) recently isolated from a patient with T-acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Of a range of nucleotides tested only ADP and ATP elevated intracellular levels of Ca2+, with ADP being the more potent agonist. Ca2+ mobilization by ATP was accompanied by increased inositol phosphate production and was blocked by the purinergic receptor antagonist, Reactive Blue 2, indicating that ATP was interacting with a P-2y receptor. Intracellular Ca2+ release triggered by ADP was independent of both inositol phosphate production and protein tyrosine phosphorylation. Expression of the transmembrane phosphotyrosine phosphatase, CD45, had no effect on ADP-stimulated Ca2+ mobilization. Our results show that functional P-2y receptors can be expressed on T-cells, and also identify a novel T-cell ADP receptor. Signals mediated by these purinergic receptors could play important roles in modulating T-cell function.