Zymosan and PMA activate the immune responses of Mutz3-derived dendritic cells synergistically

•Dendritic cells are differentiated from a monocyte cell line, Mutz-3.•Zymosan induces TNF-α production from Mutz-3-derived DC.•Zymosan activates NF-κB by inducing IKKα phosphorylation specifically.•PMA-induced PKC signaling activates NF-κB by selective phosphorylation of IKKβ.•Zymosan and PMA exerts synergy by mediating separate IKK subunit phosphorylation.