Differential expression of PKCα and PKCβ isozymes in CD4+, CD8+ and CD4+/CD8+ double positive human T cells

Abstract
Using specific monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies, we have analyzed protein kinase C α and β isozyme expression in human T cells from peripheral blood (PB) and from thymus. While the PKCβ isozyme was present in all T cell sub‐types isolated from both PB and thymus, the α isozyme was found only in single positive CD4+ thymocytes, in PB‐CD4+ lymphocytes and in PB‐CD8+ T cells from several donors. It was absent from both, CD8+and double positive CD4+/CD8+ thymocytes. These results show that PKCα and ‐β are differentially regulated during intra‐thymic development and suggest that PKCα plays a specific role in helper T cell function.