Protein Kinase C theta (PKC-θ)

Protein kinase C theta (PKC-θ) is a serine/threonine protein kinase that plays a critical role in T cell activation and immune responses. It is a member of the novel PKC subfamily and is calcium-independent but phospholipid-dependent. PKC-θ is predominantly expressed in hematopoietic cells, especially T lymphocytes and platelets. Upon antigen stimulation, PKC-θ translocates to the immunological synapse where it activates downstream signaling pathways, leading to cytokine production and T cell activation. It is an attractive drug target for autoimmune diseases, allergies, transplant rejection, and some cancers.

Other names

PKC-thetanPKC-thetanPKCtPRKCQ

PKC-θ inhibitors block T-cell activation and cytokine production by inhibiting downstream signaling pathways (NF-κB, AP-1, NFAT).