Ca2+ signaling in T-lymphocytes

Ca2+ signaling in response to antigenic stimulation is essential for proliferation of T cells and therefore is one of the important early events in T-lymphocyte signal transduction. Several aspects of T cell receptor/CD3 complex stimulated Ca2+ signaling are reviewed: generation, metabolism, function, and intracellular targets of the Ca2+-mobilizing second messengers inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and cyclic ADP-ribose, the mechanism of Ca2+ entry, and the generation of Ca2+ oscillations on the single cell level. In addition, Ca2+ signaling induced by further stimuli is discussed, including other T-lymphocyte surface receptors (e.g., CD4 or beta(1)-integrins, lipids, and physical stimuli).