The Presence and Functions of Muscarinic Receptors in Human T Cells: the Involvement in IL-2 and IL-2 Receptor System

The existence and functions of muscarinic acetylcholine (mACh) receptors in human T lymphocytes were investigated. RT-PCR analysis demonstrated the presence of M(1) and M(2) subtypes of mACh receptors in human T lymphocytes. Pretreatment with oxotremorine-M (Oxo-M) caused the increase in phytohemagglutinin-induced IL-2 production. Since 4-DAMP suppressed Oxo-M-caused enhancement in IL-2 production, M(1) receptors seem to be involved in the enhancement of the production. Oxo-M stimulated IL-2 receptor mRNA expression and DNA synthesis. Our results suggest that muscarinic receptors, perhaps M(1) receptors are involved in the enhancement of TCR-induced IL-2 production and IL-2 receptor expression in human T lymphocytes. Thus muscarinic receptors positively modulate cell growth in human T lymphocytes by the autocrine mechanism through enhancing expression of both IL-2 and the receptors.