Immunity
Volume 3, Issue 1, July 1995, Pages 87-98
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Article
CD28 costimulation can promote T cell survival by enhancing the expression of Bcl-xL

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Abstract

T cell activation through the TCR can result in either cell proliferation or cell death. The role of costimulatory receptors i n regulating T cell survival has not been defined. Here, we present data demonstrating that CD28 costimulation enhances the in vitro survival of activated T cells. One mechanism for this enhancement is the ability of CD28 costimulation to augment the production of IL-2, which acts as an extrinsic survival factor for T cells. In addition, CD28 costimulation augments the intrinsic ability of T cells to resist apoptosis. Although CD28 signal transduction had no effect on Bcl-2 expression, CD28 costimulation was found to augment the expression of BCI-xL substantially. Transfection experiments demonstrated that this level of Bcl-xL could prevent T cell death in response to TCR cross-linking, Fas cross-linking, or IL-2 withdrawal. These data suggest that an important role of CD28 costimulation is to augment T cell survival during antigen activation.

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