Atherosclerotic lesions contain multiple cell types including smooth muscle cells, macrophages, and T lymphocytes. The development of an extralymphatic T lymphocyte focus of inflammation in this condition requires chemoattractant-induced cell migration and growth factor-induced cell activation. In a previous study, we described a novel 13-15-kDa T lymphocyte-specific chemotactic cytokine, endothelial cell-derived lymphocyte chemoattractant activity (ED-LCA), secreted by serotonin-stimulated bovine aortic endothelial cells that is distinct from previously identified endothelial cell-derived interleukins (IL) 1, 6, and 8. Because of the association between T lymphocyte chemotactic and growth factor activity, in the current study we investigated the effect of ED-LCA on T cell growth. We assessed its capacity to induce markers of the passage of T cells from the resting (G0) state into the G1 phase of the cell cycle, such as receptors for IL-2 (IL-2R) and transferrin (TFR) and class II major histocompatibility complex antigens (HLA-DR). Incubation of G0 freshly isolated human T lymphocytes for 48 h with chromatographically resolved, partially purified ED-LCA resulted in a threefold increase in expression of the p55 subunit of IL-2R, a threefold increase in TFR, and a twofold increase in HLA-DR. Passage into the G1 phase of the cell cycle was confirmed by cell cycle analysis employing acridine orange. Evaluation of CD4+ and CD8+ T cell subsets by double-antibody labeling demonstrated that the p55 subunit of IL-2R was induced in both T cell subsets. Although incubation of human T cells with ED-LCA alone did not induce proliferation, addition of exogenous IL-2 to T cells pulsed with ED-LCA for 24 h caused a proliferative response with a stimulation index of 3. By up-regulating functional cell surface receptors for IL-2, ED-LCA is a competence growth factor for T lymphocytes and primes them to respond to IL-2. By virtue of its effect on T cells, as a chemotactic and competence factor, this endothelial cell-derived mitoattractant could participate with other T cell growth factors like IL-2 in the recruitment and amplification of the extralymphatic T cell component of atherosclerosis.