CTLL-2 cells are a clone of CTL that are dependent on IL-2 for proliferation. In addition to various cytokine receptors, we observed that these cells express three subtypes of adenosine receptors (ARs). In an initial attempt to delineate the functions of these receptors in CTLL-2 cells, we tested their role in proliferation. Elimination of endogenous adenosine with adenosine deaminase (ADA) markedly suppressed IL-2-dependent proliferation of these cells. This proliferative response was restored by addition of R-phenylisopropyladenosine (R-PIA), a non-hydrolyzable adenosine analogue. The stimulatory response to R-PIA was attenuated following blockade of ARs by 0.5 mM theophylline and 10 microM BW-A1433, but not by blockade of the A1AR with 100 nM xanthine amine congener. The rank order of potency of adenosine analogues in proliferation assays was R-PIA > or = N-ethylcarboxamide adenosine > S-PIA > PAPA-APEC (a substituted ethylamino-5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine). These data suggest a potential role of the A3AR in the proliferative response. R-PIA stimulates production of 1,4,5-inositol trisphosphate in CTLL-2 cells, suggesting a role of the phospholipase C signaling pathway in the proliferative response. A23187 (100 nM) and phorbol 12,13 dibutyrate (10 nM), but not 4 alpha-phorbol (10 nM), were able to restore IL-2-dependent CTLL-2 proliferation in the presence of ADA. Furthermore, inhibition of protein kinase C by staurosporine (10 nM) and of phospholipase C by tricyclodecan-9-yl-xanthogenate (D609) blocked R-PIA-mediated cell proliferation. These data demonstrate an obligatory role of adenosine in IL-2-dependent proliferation of CTLL-2 cells and support the involvement of an AR-stimulated phospholipase C signaling pathway in this process.