Stimulation of T lymphocytes via the TCR/CD3 complex initiates a series of intracellular biochemical events. Among the earliest cellular responses are the stimulation of the turnover of phosphatidylinositol and an increase in the intracellular Ca2+ concentration. The significance of these second messengers for distal cellular responses such as lymphokine production or cell proliferation is not understood. We have previously shown that hamster mAb to the murine glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored protein sgp-60 can inhibit IL-2 production, IL-2R expression, and cell proliferation, events normally observed after stimulation of T cells with an antibody to the TCR/CD3 complex or with the lectin Con A. We now show that the anti-sgp-60 mAb inhibits the activation-induced increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration. Additional analysis demonstrates that the mAb interferes with the release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores and with the generation of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate. Our findings suggest a role for this glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored protein in the generation of second messengers in signal transduction through the TCR/CD3 complex in murine T lymphocytes.