Protein kinase C-theta (PKC theta) distribution analysis in hematopoietic cells: Proliferating T cells exhibit high proportions of PKC theta in the particulate fraction

A comparative analysis of protein kinase C-theta (PKC theta) protein expres sion was performed in various mouse organs and tissues, freshly isolated po pulations of mouse and human hematopoietic cells, primary leukemias, and es tablished cell lines of different histological origins. Results demonstrate d a predominant expression of PHC theta in lymphoid tissues and skeletal mu scle. Expression levels of PKC theta, as well as PKC alpha, delta, epsilon, zeta, and eta in the thymus, were not markedly changed during postnatal de velopment. High levels of expression were observed in CD4(+) and CD8(+) sin gle-positive T cells and CD4(+)CD8(+) double-positive thymocytes, while B c ells were completely devoid of PRC theta. PKC theta was found also in plate lets, but relatively low levels or no detection of PKC theta expression wer e observed in neutrophils, monocytes, and macrophages. Highly proliferating leukemic T cells of established lines or primary tumors, but not freshly i solated resting peripheral blood T cells, exhibited high levels of membrane -bound PKC theta. Increased proportions of PKC theta in the particulate fra ction was not restricted to malignant cells but correlated with the extent of proliferation of the T cells. Thus, human peripheral blood T cells that were induced to proliferate by exposure to mitogen and IL-2 expressed incre ased levels of PKC theta in the particulate fraction. Significantly lower p roportions of membrane-bound PKC were observed for five other isoenzymes ex pressed in T cells. The occurrence of PKC theta in T, but not B, cells and its subcellular distribution in proliferating cells implicate PKC theta in cellular mechanisms regulating the sustained proliferation of T cells. (C) 1999 Academic Press.