Abstract: ObjectiveTo determine the effect of d-2-ethylhexyl phthalate(DEHP)on in terleukin-2(IL-2)in mouse T-cell lymphoma(EL4)cells in order to study the effect of DEHP on Th1-typecy to kines.MethodsPropylene glycol methyl ether(25ng/mL)and Ion(1μg/mL)were used to activate EL4 cells,which were exposed to the different concentrations of DEHP(1,10,50 μmol/L)with or without calcium-regulated neurol phosphatase inhibitor(FK506).Nuclear factor of activated cells(NFAT)mRNA was measured with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)at 6 hr and IL-2 prote in was determined in cell superna tant with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)at 48 hr.ResultsThe DEHP of 10 and 50 μmol/L significantly reduced IL-2 prote in in supernatant(P<0.01).The DEHP of 50 μmol/L increased NFAT 2 mRNA expression and decreased NFAT 1 mRNA expression(both P<0.05).FK 506 at concentration of 0.05 and 0.5μmol/L didn't express obvious effect on IL-2 prote in(P>0.05).There was no significant correlation between IL-2 prote in and NFAT mRNA expression through Spearman correlation analysis.ConclusionDEHP affects IL-2 prote in through non-dependent NFAT pathway in EL4 cells.