Stimulation of highly purified human T cells with immobilized anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody (mAb) in the presence of cAMP-inducing agents results in inhibition of proliferation by these T cells. In the present study, experiments were performed to determine how costimulatory signals modulate the inhibitory effects of cAMP-elevating agents on proliferation and interleukin 2 (IL-2) secretion by anti-CD3 mAb-stimulated T cells. Accordingly, the level of anti-CD3 mAb-induced T cell proliferation was determined in the presence or absence of accessory cells, anti-CD28 mAb, or phorbol myristic acid (PMA) in the presence of the adenylyl cyclase (AC)-linked receptor agonists prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), or isoproterenol (ISO) as well as the AC activator forskolin (FSK) or the cAMP analog dibutyryl-cAMP (dB-cAMP). While all three costimulators enhanced the level of anti-CD3 mAb-induced T cell proliferation and IL-2 secretion, they were variable in their ability to overcome the immunosuppressive effects of the cAMP elevating agents. The order of potency of the costimulatory signals in reversing the inhibitory effects of cAMP-elevating agents on anti-CD3 mAb-induced T cell proliferation and IL-2 secretion was PMA > accessory cells > anti-CD28 mAb. Differences were noted in the ability of the costimulatory signals to overcome the immunosuppressive effects of the various cAMP-inducing agents. Thus, the effects of PGE2 or ISO on T cell proliferation or IL-2 secretion were more readily overcome by costimulatory signals than those elicited by FSK or dB-cAMP. Experiments designed to investigate the mechanisms involved in these effects showed that neither accessory cells nor anti-CD28 mAb altered the level of cAMP accumulation or protein kinase A (PKA) activity in T cells stimulated with cAMP-elevating agents. However, PMA was found to decrease both cAMP accumulation and PKA activity in T cells stimulated with PGE2 or ISO but not FSK. These results suggest that the overall immunosuppressive effects of naturally occurring substances such as PGE2 or catecholamines may be altered by costimulatory signals when antigen-specific T cells interact with antigen-presenting cells.