Abstract: Objective: To investigate the effect of protein kinase C (PKC) on the apoptosis of human γδT cells induced by ethanol.Methods: The peripheral blood mononuclear cells of healthy donors were stimulated with the peptide antigen derived from Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigen (Mtb-Ag),to generate Mtb-Ag activated T cells (γδT cells were predominant).The apoptosis of human γδT cells induced by different concentrations of ethanol was measured by flowcytometry using Annexin-V-FITC/PI staining,and the effect of pretreatment with the PKC inhibitor Rottlerin on the apoptosis of human γδT cells induced by ethanol was also investigated.Results: The apoptosis of activated human γδT cells stimulated with Mtb-Ag were significantly induced by treatment of γδT ceils with 4.0% ethanol for 4,12 and 24 hours (P<0.01).The apoptosis of γδT cells induced by 4.0% ethanol were inhibited remarkably by 5.0 μmol/L and 40.0 μmol/L Rottlerin,the inhibitory rates of apoptosis were 75.17% and 58.95%(P<0.01),respectively.Conclusions: The results suggested the PKC signaling pathways participated in the apoptosis of γδT cells induced by ethanol.