Activation of nuclear factor of activated T cells in a cyclosporin A-resistant pathway

The mechanism of action of the immunosuppressive drug cyclosporin A (CsA) is the inactivation of the Ca²⁺/ calmodulin-dependent serine-threonine phosphatase calcineurin by the drug-immunophilin complex. Inactive calcineurin is unable to activate the nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT), a transcription factor required for expression of the interleukin 2 (IL-2) gene. IL-2 production by CsA-treated cells is therefore dramatically reduced. We demonstrate here, however, that NFAT can be activated, and significant levels of IL-2 can be produced by the CsA-resistant CD28-signaling pathway. In transient transfection assays, both multicopy NFAT- and IL-2 promoter-β-galactosidase reporter gene constructs could be activated by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)/αCD28 stimulation, and this activation was resistant to CsA. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay showed the induction of a CsA-resistant NFAT complex in the nuclear extracts of peripheral blood T cells stimulated with PMA plus α CD28. Peripheral blood T cells stimulated with PMA/αCD28 produced IL-2 in the presence of CsA. Collectively, these data suggest that NFAT can be activated and IL-2 can be produced in a calcineurin independent manner.