The Role of the T3/Antigen Receptor Complex in T-Cell Activation

The role of the T3/antigen receptor complex is summarized by the diagram presented in Figure 4. Signals transmitted through T3/Ti activate a phosphodiesterase. This enzyme acts on its substrate PIP2 to generate two important mediators, IP3 and diacylglycerol. IP3 mobilizes calcium from bound intracellular stones. This increase in [Ca2+]i is one intracellular signal which, in conjunction with others, induces expression of lymphokine genes by influencing pretranslational, presumably transcriptional, events. Several problems remain. Which of the five molecules in the T3/Ti complex serves as the effector molecule in the transmembrane signaling process is not known. Which molecules serve to link T3/Ti to the phosphodiesterase enzyme is under investigation. The role diacylglycerol protein kinase C and other mediators play in signalling activation is not established. Finally, for those events occurring after the early events pictured in Figure 4 that result in gene activation, the sequence is a black box. Approaches to address each of these questions are available, and answers should be forthcoming.