Granzyme a initiates an alternative pathway for granule-mediated apoptosis

Sujan Shresta, Timothy A. Graubert, Dori A. Thomas, Sofia Z. Raptis, Timothy J. Ley

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

135 Scopus citations

Abstract

Granzyme (gzm) B-deficient cytotoxic lymphocytes (CTL) have a severe defect in the rapid induction of target cell apoptosis that is almost completely corrected by prolonged incubation of the CTL effectors and their targets. We show in this report that perforin-dependent, gzmB-independent cytotoxicity is caused by gzmA (or tightly linked genes). CTL deficient for gzmA and gzmB retain normal perforin function, but these CTL have a cytotoxic defect in vivo that is as severe as perforin-deficient CTL. Collectively, these results suggest that perforin provides target cell access and/or trafficking signals for the gzms, and that the gzms themselves deliver the lethal hits. The gzmA pathway appears to function independently from gzmB and may therefore provide a critical 'back-up' system when gzmB is inhibited in the target cell.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)595-605
Number of pages11
JournalImmunity
Volume10
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - May 1999

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