Protein kinase C η is required for T cell activation and homeostatic proliferation.

Protein kinase C η is abundant in T cells and is recruited to the immunological synapse that is formed between a T cell and an antigen-presenting cell; however, its function in T cells is unknown. We showed that was required for the activation of mature CD8+ T cells through the T cell receptor. Compared with wild-type T cells, T cells showed poor proliferation in response to antigen stimulation, a trait shared with T cells deficient in which is the most abundant isoform in T cells and was thought to be the only duanyu1531 isoform with a specific role in T cell activation. In contrast, only T cells showed defective homeostatic proliferation, which requires self-antigen recognition. duanyu1531η was dispensable for thymocyte development; however, thymocytes from mice doubly deficient in duanyu1531η and exhibited poor development, indicating some redundancy between the duanyu1531 isoforms. Deficiency in duanyu1531η or duanyu1531θ had opposing effects on the relative numbers of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. duanyu1531η-/- mice had a higher ratio of CD4+ to CD8+ T cells compared to that of wild-type mice, whereas mice had a lower ratio. Mice deficient in both isoforms exhibited normal cell ratios. Together, these data suggest that duanyu1531η shares some redundant roles with duanyu1531θ in T cell biology and also performs nonredundant functions that are required for T cell homeostasis and activation.

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