Requirement for proliferating cell nuclear antigen expression during stages of the Chinese hamster ovary cell cycle

Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA/cyclin) is a nuclear protein that can stimulate purified DNA polymerase delta in vitro, and its synthesis correlates with the proliferation rate of cells. We have attempted to determine whether synthesis of PCNA/cyclin in Chinese hamster ovary cells is necessary to regulate entry into S phase. We have measured cellular PCNA/cyclin concentration of the mRNA or protein throughout the cell cycle. Cells were separated by centrifugal elutriation into populations enriched for G-1, S, and G-2/M phases. Quantitative Northern hybridization analysis was performed on RNA isolated from each cell population by using a cDNA clone of PCNA/cyclin as a probe. Results demonstrated that although intact PCNA/cyclin mRNA is present during all phases of the cell cycle, an induction of about 3-fold occurs during S phase. Two-parameter staining for PCNA/cyclin and DNA, and analysis by flow cytometry, confirmed that the quantity of PCNA/cyclin protein in the cells increases severalfold in G-1 or early S phase but generally is invariant in S and G-2/M phases. This cell cycle dependence of PCNA/cyclin expression suggests that the observed synthesis is a prerequisite for initiation of DNA replication. Introduction of an antisense oligonucleotide complementary to the PCNA/cyclin mRNA to inhibit PCNA/cyclin synthesis effectively prevented entry of G-1 phase cells into S phase. A complementary sense oligonucleotide used as a control did not have an inhibitory effect. This result suggests that a threshold concentration of PCNA/cyclin is necessary for entry into S phase.     

Cyclin mRNA and protein expression in recombinant interleukin 2-stimulated cloned murine T lymphocytes

Expression of cyclin, a non-histone nuclear protein, during recombinant interleukin 2 (rIL2)-driven cell-cycle progression of cloned T lymphocytes has been assessed. We found that expression of cyclin protein, as detected by immunofluorescence, is tightly associated with proliferation, and not merely S-phase, of L2 cells stimulated with rIL2. Cyclin immunofluorescence was detected in all cell-cycle phases (G1/S/G2/M, as detected by flow cytometry) of proliferating L2 cells. Accumulation of cyclin mRNA levels was induced as early as 1 h after stimulation, was maximal at 25-49 h, and remained elevated throughout stimulation, as detected by Northern blot analysis. A cDNA-encoding murine cyclin was cloned from a cDNA library prepared from IL2-stimulated cloned T cells. The sequence of the 5' end of the murine cyclin cDNA was determined and found to be 88% and 82% similar to the sequences of cDNA clones encoding rat and human cyclin, respectively. The present studies demonstrate that cyclin protein and mRNA accumulation are highly regulated during IL2-induced proliferation of a cloned T cell. These data provide a framework for addressing the molecular mechanisms regulating cyclin gene expression during cellular proliferation.     

Control of cell cycle entry and progression in mitogen-stimulated human B lymphocytes

Tonsillar B lymphocytes were stimulated to proliferate by the mitogenic combination of phorbol dibutyrate and ionomycin. Progression through the cell cycle was monitored by measurements of cellular DNA and RNA content using flow cytometry. Changes in surface expression of class II MHC antigens and CD20 antigen were also monitored as early parameters of B lymphocyte activation and cell cycle progression. The results showed that about 60% of the population synchronously entered and progressed through the cell cycle. The transition from the resting state, signaled by increased RNA content, occurred about 12 to 24 hr after stimulation; S phase entry occurred at about 36 hr. Small, variable populations of cells appeared to be unresponsive to the stimuli, either because they were “preactivated” before in vitro stimulation or were already dying. The kinetics of appearance and accumulation of several cell cycle regulated/regulatory proteins were followed by immunoblotting. The proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) cyclin A and p33^cdk2 proteins were either absent or present in very low amounts in resting cells and first became detectable in increased amount beginning at about 24 hr after stimulation; increased p34^cdc2 protein was not detected until about 36 hr. Increased cellular content and phosphorylation of the p110^Rb protein was already obvious by 24 hr after stimulation. The effects of several immunosuppressive agents were examined using purified B cells. Both cyclosporin A and an FK506 analogue were shown to inhibit proliferation of B lymphocytes, at the low doses also inhibitory to T cells. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Protein kinase A regulates expression of p27(kip1) and cyclin D3 to suppress proliferation of leukemic T cell lines.

Peripheral homeostasis and tolerance requires the suppression or removal of excessive or harmful T lymphocytes. This can occur either by apoptosis through active antigen-induced death or cytokine withdrawal. Alternatively, T cell activation can be suppressed by agents that activate the cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) signaling pathway, such as prostaglandin E2. Stimulation of PKA inhibits lymphocyte proliferation and immune effector functions. Here we have investigated the mechanism by which activation of PKA induces inhibition of proliferation in human leukemic T cell lines. Using a variety of agents that stimulate PKA, we can arrest Jurkat and H9 leukemic T cells in the G(1) phase of the cell cycle, whereas cell viability is hardly affected. This G(1) arrest is associated with an inhibition of cyclin D/Cdk and cyclin E/Cdk kinase activity. Interestingly, expression of cyclin D3 is rapidly reduced by PKA activation, whereas expression of the Cdk inhibitor p27(kip1) is induced. Ectopic expression of cyclin D3 can override the growth suppression induced by PKA activation to some extent, indicating that growth inhibition of leukemic T cells by PKA activation is partially dependent on down-regulation of cyclin D3 expression. Taken together our data suggest that immunosuppression by protein kinase A involves regulation of both cyclin D3 and p27(kip1) expression.     

PCNA/cyclin expression and BrdU uptake define different subpopulations in different cell lines.

Monoclonal antibodies (MAb) to a 36 KD protein, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA/cyclin), have been previously shown to be capable of identifying proliferating cells in vitro as well as in alcohol-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue specimens. The routine use of these anti-PCNA/cyclin MAb in investigative studies and in diagnostic pathology requires a clearer understanding of the distribution of PCNA/cyclin in the different cell populations found in tissue specimens. We therefore compared the ability of MAb to three nucleus-associated proliferation markers (MAb 19A2 to PCNA/cyclin; Ki-67 to an undefined proliferation-related marker; BU-1 to 5'-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporated into DNA) to identify the proliferating cell fraction of various cells in vitro. The cell lines were chosen to represent a spectrum of proliferation rates (high to low) and cell lineage (mesenchymal vs epithelial, non-transformed vs malignant): (a) HeLa and A-431 (two malignant carcinoma cell lines with high proliferation rates); (b) SK-5 (a non-transformed fibroblast cell line with a low proliferation rate); (c) HUVE (a non-transformed human umbilical vein endothelial cell line with a low proliferation rate). Single and double labeling immunofluorescence studies were performed after uniform 1-hr incubations with BrdU. Comparison of the overlapping distributions of detectable PCNA/cyclin expression and BrdU incorporation demonstrated substantial qualitative and quantitative differences between the different cell lines. In two of the four cell lines (HeLa, A-431) the BrdU staining distributions formed inclusive subsets of the PCNA-positive cell populations. In the HUVE cell line the two populations overlapped incompletely. In one cell line, SK-5, the two populations were mutually exclusive. MAb Ki-67 demonstrated a pattern in the SK-5 cell line that was strongly predictive of PCNA positivity, while showing no associated patterns in the other three cell lines. We conclude that PCNA/cyclin expression detected by MAb may define different cell subpopulations in different cell types relative to those incorporating BrdU or expressing the target antigen for Ki-67. This has implications for the clinical study of mixed cell populations using these antibodies.     

MicroRNA-195 Inhibits the Proliferation of Human Glioma Cells by Directly Targeting Cyclin D1 and Cyclin E1

Glioma proliferation is a multistep process during which a sequence of genetic and epigenetic alterations randomly occur to affect the genes controlling cell proliferation, cell death and genetic stability. microRNAs are emerging as important epigenetic modulators of multiple target genes, leading to abnormal cellular signaling involving cellular proliferation in cancers.In the present study, we found that expression of miR-195 was markedly downregulated in glioma cell lines and human primary glioma tissues, compared to normal human astrocytes and matched non-tumor associated tissues. Upregulation of miR-195 dramatically reduced the proliferation of glioma cells. Flow cytometry analysis showed that ectopic expression of miR-195 significantly decreased the percentage of S phase cells and increased the percentage of G1/G0 phase cells. Overexpression of miR-195 dramatically reduced the anchorage-independent growth ability of glioma cells. Furthermore, overexpression of miR-195 downregulated the levels of phosphorylated retinoblastoma (pRb) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in glioma cells. Conversely, inhibition of miR-195 promoted cell proliferation, increased the percentage of S phase cells, reduced the percentage of G1/G0 phase cells, enhanced anchorage-independent growth ability, upregulated the phosphorylation of pRb and PCNA in glioma cells. Moreover, we show that miR-195 inhibited glioma cell proliferation by downregulating expression of cyclin D1 and cyclin E1, via directly targeting the 3′-untranslated regions (3′-UTR) of cyclin D1 and cyclin E1 mRNA. Taken together, our results suggest that miR-195 plays an important role to inhibit the proliferation of glioma cells, and present a novel mechanism for direct miRNA-mediated suppression of cyclin D1 and cyclin E1 in glioma.     

The effect of obestatin on porcine ovarian granulosa cells

The aim of our in vitro experiments was to investigate the role of obestatin, a newly discovered metabolic hormone produced in the stomach and other tissues, in the direct control of ovarian cell proliferation, apoptosis and secretion. Porcine granulosa cells were cultured in the presence of obestatin (0, 1, 10 and 100ng/ml medium). The expression of intracellular peptides associated with proliferation (PCNA, cyclin B1, MAP kinase), as well as markers of apoptosis (Bax, p53, Caspase 3), were detected using immunocytochemistry and Western immunoblotting. Secretion of progesterone (P(4)), testosterone (T) and estradiol (E(2)) was measured by EIA. Addition of obestatin (1-100ng/ml) to the culture medium significantly stimulated the expression of PCNA and resulted in an increase in expression of cyclin B1 and MAPK. It also significantly increased the percentage of cells containing the apoptotic and anti-proliferating peptides p53, Caspase 3 and Bax. At 10 and 100ng/ml, obestatin promoted the secretion of P(4), but not T or E(2). Our results are the first demonstration that obestatin directly controls porcine ovarian cell functions: it can stimulate proliferation (accumulation of rPCNA, cyclin B1 and MAPK), apoptosis (expression of p53, Caspase 3 and Bax) and the secretion of progesterone.     

Cyclin D2 and Ha-Ras transformed rat embryo fibroblasts exhibit a novel deregulation of cell size control and early S phase arrest in low serum.

The D-type cyclins are growth factor-regulated delayed early functions which peak at the G1/S transition, are thought to regulate entry into S phase and have been implicated in tumorigenesis. Here, we show that cyclin D2 can co-operate with Ha-Ras to impose a novel transformed state on rat embryo fibroblasts (REF). While clonal cyclin D2/Ha-Ras REF transformants exhibit a characteristic transformed phenotype in high serum, in low serum they arrest cell proliferation and display profound morphological and cytological changes indicating loss of control of cell mass and deregulation of the G1/S transition. Notably, in low serum, despite re-establishment of actin cables and arrest of proliferation, cell mass continues to increase, creating giant cells up to 10 x normal size. Also, during low-serum culture the cells make a very gradual but progressive entry into S phase, reaching a 2.4N DNA content after 6 days. PCNA is expressed and 2N and 4N cells are largely absent, and thus the cells undergo a novel S phase arrest. While transfer to low serum induced the retinoblastoma protein to enter its dephosphorylated state, and cyclin A, cyclin B and cdc2 levels to decrease, all as normal, cyclin E, cdk4, cdk2 and the exogenous cyclin D2 persisted at high levels. These results indicate that cyclin D2 and Ha-Ras can transform cells when mitogenic signals from growth factors are provided. However, in low serum, co-operation of cyclin D2 and Ha-Ras provides only a subset of the progression signals and these are sufficient for G1-related cell mass increase and S phase entry, but are insufficient for full cell cycling.     

Cyclin D1 Inhibits Cell Proliferation through Binding to PCNA and Cdk2

Cyclin D1 is known as a promoting factor for cell growth. We previously showed, however, that the expression of cyclin D1 increases markedly in senescent human fibroblastsin vitro.Here we investigate whether the overexpression of cyclin D1 inhibits cell proliferation. Colony formation after transfection with the cyclin D1 expression vector was repressed in NIH-3T3, TIG-1, CHO-K1, and HeLa cells, compared with those with mock and cyclin E expression vectors. A transient transfection assay demonstrated that the overexpression of cyclin D1 inhibited DNA synthesis of TIG-1 cells. The complexes of cyclin D1 with PCNA and cdk2 increased remarkably in senescent cells, compared with young counterparts. Excessive glutathioneS-transferase (GST)–cyclin D1 inhibited DNA replication and repressed cdk2-dependent kinase activityin vitro.DNA synthesis of NIH-3T3 transfectants with PCNA or cdk2 expression vectors was not inhibited by the overexpression of cyclin D1. These results indicate that an excessive level of cyclin D1 represses cell proliferation by inhibiting DNA replication and cdk2 activity through the binding of cyclin D1 to PCNA and cdk2, as it does in senescent cells.     

Cyclin D1 production in cycling cells depends on ras in a cell-cycle-specific manner.

BACKGROUND: Cellular Ras and cyclin D1 are required at similar times of the cell cycle in quiescent NIH3T3 cells that have been induced to proliferate, but not in the case of cycling NIH3T3 cells. In asynchronous cultures, Ras activity has been found to be required only during G2 phase to promote passage through the entire upcoming cell cycle, whereas cyclin D1 is required through G1 phase until DNA synthesis begins. To explain these results in molecular terms, we propose a model whereby continuous cell cycle progression in NIH3T3 cells requires cellular Ras activity to promote the synthesis of cyclin D1 during G2 phase. Cyclin D1 expression then continues through G1 phase independently of Ras activity, and drives the G1-S phase transition. RESULTS: We found high levels of cyclin D1 expression during the G2, M and G1 phases of the cell cycle in cycling NIH3T3 cells, using quantitative fluorescent antibody measurements of individual cells. By microinjecting anti-Ras antibody, we found that the induction of cyclin D1 expression beginning in G2 phase was dependent on Ras activity. Consistent with our model, cyclin D1 expression during G1 phase was particularly stable following neutralization of cellular Ras. Finally, ectopic expression of cyclin D1 largely overcame the requirement for cellular Ras activity during the continuous proliferation of cycling NIH3T3 cells. CONCLUSIONS: Ras-dependent induction of cyclin D1 expression beginning in G2 phase is critical for continuous cell cycle progression in NIH3T3 cells.     

HMGB1 mediates IFN-γ-induced cell proliferation in MMC cells through regulation of cyclin D1/CDK4/p16 pathway

Previous studies have revealed the elevated serum levels of High-mobility group box-1(HMGB1) and the interferon-γ (IFN-γ)-induced proliferation of renal mesangial cells in patients or experimental animals with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, it is still not elucidated whether HMGB1 involves in the pathogenesis of lupus nephritis (LN) and mediates IFN-γ-induced mesangial cell proliferation. Therefore, in the present study we demonstrated HMGB1 mRNA and protein levels were increased in the glomeruli of LN patients and BXSB mice. HMGB1 increased the proliferation index of mouse mesangial cells (MMC) that was accompanied with the up-regulation of cyclin D1, CDK4 and the down-regulation of p16, subsequently promoting the transition from the G0/G1 to S stage. Inhibition of HMGB1 by a specific short hairpin RNA vector prevented cyclin D1/CDK4/p16 up-regulation and attenuated IFN-γ-induced MMC cell proliferation and PCNA (proliferating cell nuclear antigen, PCNA) expression. These findings indicate that HMGB1 mediates IFN-γ-induced cell proliferation in MMC cells through regulation of cyclin D1/CDK4/p16 pathway and promoting the cell cycle transition from G1 to S stage.     

BCR-ABL and interleukin 3 promote haematopoietic cell proliferation and survival through modulation of cyclin D2 and p27Kip1 expression

Although it is evident that BCR-ABL can rescue cytokine-deprived hematopoietic progenitor cells from cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, the exact mechanism of action of BCR/ABL and interleukin (IL)-3 to promote proliferation and survival has not been established. Using the pro-B cell line BaF3 and a BaF3 cell line stably overexpressing BCR-ABL (BaF3-p210), we investigated the proliferative signals derived from BCR-ABL and IL-3. The results indicate that both IL-3 and BCR-ABL target the expression of cyclin Ds and down-regulation of p27(Kip1) to mediate pRB-related pocket protein phosphorylation, E2F activation, and thus S phase progression. These findings were further confirmed in a BaF3 cell line (TonB.210) where the BCR-ABL expression is inducible by doxycyclin and by using the drug STI571 to inactivate BCR-ABL activity in BaF3-p210. To establish the functional significance of cyclin D2 and p27(Kip1) expression in response to IL-3 and BCR-ABL expression, we studied the effects of ectopic expression of cyclin D2 and p27(Kip1) on cell proliferation and survival. Our results demonstrate that both cyclin D2 and p27(Kip1) have a role in BaF3 cell proliferation and survival, as ectopic expression of cyclin D2 is sufficient to abolish the cell cycle arrest and apoptosis induced by IL-3 withdrawal or by BCR-ABL inactivation, while overexpression of p27(Kip1) can cause cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in the BaF3 cells. Furthermore, our data also suggest that cyclin D2 functions upstream of p27(Kip1), cyclin E, and cyclin D3, and therefore, plays an essential part in integrating the signals from IL-3 and BCR-ABL with the pRB/E2F pathway.     

Cytokine-driven cell cycling is mediated through Cdc25A

Lymphocytes are the central mediators of the immune response, requiring cytokines for survival and proliferation. Survival signaling targets the Bcl-2 family of apoptotic mediators, however, the pathway for the cytokine-driven proliferation of lymphocytes is poorly understood. Here we show that cytokine-induced cell cycle progression is not solely dependent on the synthesis of cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdks) or cyclins. Rather, we observe that in lymphocyte cell lines dependent on interleukin-3 or interleukin-7, or primary lymphocytes dependent on interleukin 7, the phosphatase Cdc25A is the critical mediator of proliferation. Withdrawal of IL-7 or IL-3 from dependent lymphocytes activates the stress kinase, p38 MAPK, which phosphorylates Cdc25A, inducing its degradation. As a result, Cdk/cyclin complexes remain phosphorylated and inactive and cells arrest before the induction of apoptosis. Inhibiting p38 MAPK or expressing a mutant Cdc25A, in which the two p38 MAPK target sites, S75 and S123, are altered, renders cells resistant to cytokine withdrawal, restoring the activity of Cdk/cyclin complexes and driving the cell cycle independent of a growth stimulus.     

Functional properties of the 50 kd protein associated with the E-receptor on human T lymphocytes: suppression of IL 2 production by anti-p50 monoclonal antibodies

Monoclonal antibody 9.6 is specific for a 50 kd T cell surface protein (p50) associated with the sheep erythrocyte (E)-receptor on human T lymphocytes. This antibody interferes with many T cell functions. We have examined the effect of antibody 9.6 on lymphocyte proliferation and interleukin 2 (IL 2) production triggered by mitogens, soluble antigens, and alloantigens to elucidate the mechanism(s) of its immunosuppressive action. At concentrations as low as 50 ng/ml, 9.6 suppressed lymphocyte proliferation and the elaboration of IL 2 by T cells stimulated by PHA, alloantigens, or low concentrations of the phorbol ester TPA (less than or equal to ng/ml). Furthermore, in cultures stimulated by a combination of PHA plus TPA, 9.6 did not inhibit the acquisition of IL 2 receptors but inhibited proliferation and IL 2 production. Immunoaffinity-purified IL 2 completely restored lymphocyte proliferation in cultures inhibited by 9.6. Studies of kinetics of inhibition by 9.6 showed that this antibody inhibited lymphocyte proliferation induced by PHA, alloantigen, and PPD even when added at 24, 48, and 72 hr, respectively, after the initiation of these cultures, suggesting that 9.6 does not block lectin binding or antigen recognition by T cells and that it can inhibit lymphocyte proliferation even after cells have undergone one or more rounds of cell division. A dose-response analysis of lymphocyte proliferation induced by PHA or by TPA demonstrated that the degree of inhibition by 9.6 decreased with increasing concentrations of these mitogens. Antibody 9.6 did not inhibit lymphocyte response induced by optimal concentrations of PHA (50 to 100 micrograms/ml; PHA-M) but inhibited proliferation of maximally induced lymphocytes by using a synergistic combination of low concentrations of PHA (5 micrograms/ml, PHA-M) plus TPA (1 ng/ml). Taken together, these findings indicate that 1) 9.6 inhibits lymphocyte proliferation by affecting IL 2 production, 2) 9.6 does not inhibit the acquisition of 9.6 receptors induced by a synergistic combination of PHA plus TPA, and 3) p50 molecules may be involved in multiple pathways of T cell activation.     

Characterization of the effects of butyric acid on cell proliferation, cell cycle distribution and apoptosis

We examined concentration-dependent changes in cell cycle distribution and cell cycle-related proteins induced by butyric acid. Butyric acid enhanced or suppressed the proliferation of Jurkat human T lymphocytes depending on concentration. A low concentration of butyric acid induced a massive increase in the number of cells in S and G2/M phases, whereas a high concentration significantly increased the accumulation of cells in G2/M phase, suppressed the accumulation of cells in G0/G1 and S phases, and induced apoptosis that cell cycle-related protein expression in Jurkat cells treated with high levels of butyric acid caused a marked decrease in cyclin A, cyclin E, cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2), CDK4 and CDK6 protein levels in G0/G1 and S phases, with apoptosis induction, and a decrease in cyclin B, Cdc25c and p27KIP1 protein levels, as well as an increase in p21CIP1/WAF1 protein level, in the G2/M phase. Taken together, our results indicate that butyric acid has bimodal effects on cell proliferation and survival. The inhibition of cell growth followed by the increase in apoptosis induced by high levels of butyric acid were related to an increase in cell death in G0/G1 and S phases, as well as G2/M arrest of cells. Finally, these results were further substantiated by the expression profile of butyric acid-treated Jurkat cells obtained by means of cDNA array.     

Proliferating cell nuclear antigen and p21 are components of multiple cell cycle kinase complexes.

We have recently shown that two proteins, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and p21, are associated with cyclin D. Here we show that PCNA and p21 are common components of a wide variety of cyclin/cyclin-dependent kinase complexes in nontransformed cells. These include kinase complexes containing cyclin A, cyclin B, and cyclin D, associated either with CDC2, CDK2, CDK4, or CDK5. We show that PCNA and p21 form separate quaternary complex with each cyclin/CDK and that these quaternary complexes contain a substantial, if not major, fraction of the cell cycle kinases in asynchronously growing cells. These results suggest that PCNA and p21 may perform a common function for all these kinases.     

Amniotic membrane-derived cells inhibit proliferation of cancer cell lines by inducing cell cycle arrest

Cells derived from the amniotic foetal membrane of human term placenta have drawn particular attention mainly for their plasticity and immunological properties, which render them interesting for stem-cell research and cell-based therapeutic applications. In particular, we have previously demonstrated that amniotic mesenchymal tissue cells (AMTC) inhibit lymphocyte proliferation in vitro and suppress the generation and maturation of monocyte-derived dendritic cells. Here, we show that AMTC also significantly reduce the proliferation of cancer cell lines of haematopoietic and non-haematopoietic origin, in both cell-cell contact and transwell co-cultures, therefore suggesting the involvement of yet-unknown inhibitory soluble factor(s) in this 'cell growth restraint'. Importantly, we provide evidence that the anti-proliferative effect of AMTC is associated with induction of cell cycle arrest in G0/G1 phase. Gene expression analyses demonstrate that AMTC can down-regulate cancer cells' mRNA expression of genes associated with cell cycle progression, such as cyclins (cyclin D2, cyclin E1, cyclin H) and cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK4, CDK6 and CDK2), whilst they up-regulate cell cycle negative regulator such as p15 and p21, consistent with a block in G0/G1 phase with no progression to S phase. Taken together, these findings warrant further studies to investigate the applicability of these cells for controlling cancer cell proliferation in vivo.     

Porcine testicular extract inhibits T cell proliferation by blocking cell cycle transition from G1 phase to S phase

Since T cells express diverse sex steroid hormone receptors, they might be a good model to evaluate the effects of sex steroid hormones on immune modulation. Porcine testicular extract contains several sex steroid hormones and may be useful to study the effects of sex steroid hormones during T cell activation. We have examined the effects of the porcine testicular extract on T cell activation: proliferation and secretion of cytokines (IL-2 and IFN-γ) by activated T cells were severely decreased after treatment with porcine testicular extract. The extract produced an immunosuppressive effect and inhibited the proliferation of activated T cells by blocking the cell cycle transition from the G(1) phase to S phase. These effects were mediated by a decrease in the expression of cyclin D1 and cyclin E and constitutive expression of p27(KIP1) after T cell activation.