Current models of T cell activation implicate increases in intracellular free Ca2+ concentration and activation of the Ca2+ and phospholipid dependent enzyme protein kinase C (PKC) as important early events leading to interleukin 2 (IL-2) production, interleukin 2 receptor (IL-2R) expression, and subsequent cell proliferation. The present study examined the age-related defect in T cell proliferation to determine if signals that activate PKC and increase intracytosolic free Ca2+ concentration might be defective. Using phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), which directly activates PKC, and Ca2+ ionophore A23187, which increases intracellular cytoplasmic free Ca2+ concentration, the induction of IL-2 secretion, IL-2R expression and cell proliferation were studied. The results demonstrate that following stimulation with PMA and A23187, purified T cells from elderly subjects demonstrate low levels of IL-2 production, IL-2R expression and cell proliferation. Exogenous purified human IL-2 did not fully correct the low proliferative responses of T cells from old donors, however, did markedly boost the response. While it appears that the inability of T cells to express IL-2R and respond to IL-2, along with a lower endogenous IL-2 production are limiting factors in cell proliferation, the inability of PMA and A23187 to correct this defect suggests that the early phases of signal transduction per se are probably not a primary cause of the immunodeficiency seen in ageing.