Aplotaxene blocks T cell activation by modulation of protein kinase C-θ-dependent pathway

•Aplotaxene effectively inhibits T cell activation.•Aplotaxene inhibits PKC-θ phosphorylation.•Aplotaxene inhibits PKC-θ translocation to the immunological synapse.•Aplotaxene leads to decrease MAPK signal transduction for T cell activation.•Aplotaxene may be a novel therapeutic agent for immunological diseases.