To elucidate T cell antigen receptor (TCR) signaling leading to activation nuclear factor of activated T cells (NF-AIT), we reconstituted TCR signaling to activate NF-AT in a non-lymphoid cell line, 293T, We demonstrated that co-expression of CD8/zeta and Syk were neccesary for NF-AT activation in 293T, This NF-AT response was completely inhibited hy the addition of cyclosporin A or FK506, but markedly enhanced by the additional expression of Tee protein tyrosine kinase, We also show that the cytokine signaling suppressor, suppressor of cytokine signaling 1, potently inhibited this response by interacting with Syk and immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motifs in CD8/zeta, These results imply that this novel system may provide a useful tool to delineate or identify the regulatory molecules for CD3 zeta/Syk-mediated NF-AT activation. (C) 2000 Federation of European Biochemical Societies.