Protein kinase Ctheta: a new essential superstar on the T-cell stage

Immunol Today. 2000 Nov;21(11):567-73. doi: 10.1016/s0167-5699(00)01749-7.

Abstract

Recent studies have identified protein kinase Cθ (PKCtheta), a member of the Ca(2+)-independent PKC family, as an essential component of the T-cell synapse that cooperates with calcineurin to activate the interleukin-2 (IL-2) gene. Several selective functions of PKCtheta involved in the activation and survival of T cells are reviewed herein. Among these, the nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) signaling cascade appears to be the most critical target of PKCtheta in the T-cell receptor/CD28 costimulatory pathway that leads to T-cell activation.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis
  • Gene Expression
  • Humans
  • Intercellular Junctions / enzymology
  • Intercellular Junctions / immunology
  • Interleukin-2 / genetics
  • Isoenzymes / chemistry
  • Isoenzymes / genetics
  • Isoenzymes / metabolism*
  • JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Protein Kinase C / chemistry
  • Protein Kinase C / genetics
  • Protein Kinase C / metabolism*
  • Protein Kinase C-theta
  • T-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • T-Lymphocytes / enzymology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Transcription Factor AP-1 / metabolism
  • ras Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Interleukin-2
  • Isoenzymes
  • NF-kappa B
  • Transcription Factor AP-1
  • PRKCQ protein, human
  • Protein Kinase C
  • Protein Kinase C-theta
  • JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • ras Proteins