Selective function of PKC-theta in T cells.
T cell activation is a critical process in initiating adaptive immune response since only through this process the naive antigen specific T cells differentiate into armed effector T cells that mediate the actual immune response. During T cell activation, naive T cells undergo clonal expansion and acquire the capability to kill target cells infected with pathogens or produce cytokines essential for regulating immune response. Inappropriate activation or inactivation of T cells leads to autoimmunity or severe immunodeficiencies. PKC-theta is selectively expressed in T cells and required for mediating T cell activation process. Mice deficient in PKC-theta exhibit defects in T cell activation, survival and activation-induced cell death. PKC-theta selectively translocates to immunological synapse and mediates the signals required for activation of NF-kappaB, AP1 and NFAT that are essential for T cell activation. Furthermore, PKC-theta-/- mice displayed multiple defects in the development of T cell-mediated immune responses in vivo. PKC-theta is thus a critical molecule that regulates T cell function at multiple stages in T cell-mediated immune responses in vivo.
Manicassamy
Santhakumar
S
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
Gupta
Sonal
S
Sun
Zuoming
Z
D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000502:physiology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000502:physiology*; D000074121:Protein Kinase C-theta; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology
D007527:Isoenzymes; D016328:NF-kappa B; C076233:PRKCQ protein, human; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D000074121:Protein Kinase C-theta