BIOMAT Database Logo BIOMAT Database Logo

Molecular mechanisms of lymphocyte-mediated killing. 1988

J D Young, and C C Liu, and P M Persechini
Laboratory of Cellular Physiology and Immunology, Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10021.

Lymphocytes kill tumor cells and other target cells by a contact-dependent mechanism. Killer lymphocytes acquire cytoplasmic granules upon lymphokine stimulation and these granules in turn contain potent cytotoxic mediators, some of which have been characterized recently. These include (i) a pore-forming protein (perforin) of 70 kDa that polymerizes into transmembrane tubules in the presence of calcium and that is structurally related to the terminal components (C5b-6, C7, C8 and C9) of the complement cascade, (ii) a cytokine related to tumor necrosis factor and lymphotoxin that causes DNA fragmentation in target cells, and (iii) a family of serine esterases presently without any known function. The relevance of these mediators in lymphocyte-mediated killing is currently being investigated. The identification and characterization of additional putative mediators of cytotoxicity in the future will undoubtedly provide us with a better understanding of the molecular basis of cell-mediated killing.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007694 Killer Cells, Natural Bone marrow-derived lymphocytes that possess cytotoxic properties, classically directed against transformed and virus-infected cells. Unlike T CELLS; and B CELLS; NK CELLS are not antigen specific. The cytotoxicity of natural killer cells is determined by the collective signaling of an array of inhibitory and stimulatory CELL SURFACE RECEPTORS. A subset of T-LYMPHOCYTES referred to as NATURAL KILLER T CELLS shares some of the properties of this cell type. NK Cells,Natural Killer Cells,Cell, NK,Cell, Natural Killer,Cells, NK,Cells, Natural Killer,Killer Cell, Natural,NK Cell,Natural Killer Cell
D008285 Major Histocompatibility Complex The genetic region which contains the loci of genes which determine the structure of the serologically defined (SD) and lymphocyte-defined (LD) TRANSPLANTATION ANTIGENS, genes which control the structure of the IMMUNE RESPONSE-ASSOCIATED ANTIGENS, HUMAN; the IMMUNE RESPONSE GENES which control the ability of an animal to respond immunologically to antigenic stimuli, and genes which determine the structure and/or level of the first four components of complement. Histocompatibility Complex,Complex, Histocompatibility,Complex, Major Histocompatibility,Complices, Histocompatibility,Complices, Major Histocompatibility,Histocompatibility Complex, Major,Histocompatibility Complices,Histocompatibility Complices, Major,Major Histocompatibility Complices
D008562 Membrane Glycoproteins Glycoproteins found on the membrane or surface of cells. Cell Surface Glycoproteins,Surface Glycoproteins,Cell Surface Glycoprotein,Membrane Glycoprotein,Surface Glycoprotein,Glycoprotein, Cell Surface,Glycoprotein, Membrane,Glycoprotein, Surface,Glycoproteins, Cell Surface,Glycoproteins, Membrane,Glycoproteins, Surface,Surface Glycoprotein, Cell,Surface Glycoproteins, Cell
D008565 Membrane Proteins Proteins which are found in membranes including cellular and intracellular membranes. They consist of two types, peripheral and integral proteins. They include most membrane-associated enzymes, antigenic proteins, transport proteins, and drug, hormone, and lectin receptors. Cell Membrane Protein,Cell Membrane Proteins,Cell Surface Protein,Cell Surface Proteins,Integral Membrane Proteins,Membrane-Associated Protein,Surface Protein,Surface Proteins,Integral Membrane Protein,Membrane Protein,Membrane-Associated Proteins,Membrane Associated Protein,Membrane Associated Proteins,Membrane Protein, Cell,Membrane Protein, Integral,Membrane Proteins, Integral,Protein, Cell Membrane,Protein, Cell Surface,Protein, Integral Membrane,Protein, Membrane,Protein, Membrane-Associated,Protein, Surface,Proteins, Cell Membrane,Proteins, Cell Surface,Proteins, Integral Membrane,Proteins, Membrane,Proteins, Membrane-Associated,Proteins, Surface,Surface Protein, Cell
D002463 Cell Membrane Permeability A quality of cell membranes which permits the passage of solvents and solutes into and out of cells. Permeability, Cell Membrane
D003165 Complement System Proteins Serum glycoproteins participating in the host defense mechanism of COMPLEMENT ACTIVATION that creates the COMPLEMENT MEMBRANE ATTACK COMPLEX. Included are glycoproteins in the various pathways of complement activation (CLASSICAL COMPLEMENT PATHWAY; ALTERNATIVE COMPLEMENT PATHWAY; and LECTIN COMPLEMENT PATHWAY). Complement Proteins,Complement,Complement Protein,Hemolytic Complement,Complement, Hemolytic,Protein, Complement,Proteins, Complement,Proteins, Complement System
D000920 Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity The phenomenon of antibody-mediated target cell destruction by non-sensitized effector cells. The identity of the target cell varies, but it must possess surface IMMUNOGLOBULIN G whose Fc portion is intact. The effector cell is a "killer" cell possessing Fc receptors. It may be a lymphocyte lacking conventional B- or T-cell markers, or a monocyte, macrophage, or polynuclear leukocyte, depending on the identity of the target cell. The reaction is complement-independent. ADCC,Cytotoxicity, Antibody-Dependent Cell,Cell Cytoxicity, Antibody-Dependent,Antibody Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity,Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicities,Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytoxicities,Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytoxicity,Cell Cytotoxicities, Antibody-Dependent,Cell Cytotoxicity, Antibody-Dependent,Cell Cytoxicities, Antibody-Dependent,Cell Cytoxicity, Antibody Dependent,Cytotoxicities, Antibody-Dependent Cell,Cytotoxicity, Antibody Dependent Cell,Cytoxicities, Antibody-Dependent Cell,Cytoxicity, Antibody-Dependent Cell
D013602 T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic Immunized T-lymphocytes which can directly destroy appropriate target cells. These cytotoxic lymphocytes may be generated in vitro in mixed lymphocyte cultures (MLC), in vivo during a graft-versus-host (GVH) reaction, or after immunization with an allograft, tumor cell or virally transformed or chemically modified target cell. The lytic phenomenon is sometimes referred to as cell-mediated lympholysis (CML). These CD8-positive cells are distinct from NATURAL KILLER CELLS and NATURAL KILLER T-CELLS. There are two effector phenotypes: TC1 and TC2. Cell-Mediated Lympholytic Cells,Cytotoxic T Cells,Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte,Cytotoxic T-Lymphocytes,TC1 Cell,TC1 Cells,TC2 Cell,TC2 Cells,Cell Mediated Lympholytic Cells,Cell, Cell-Mediated Lympholytic,Cell, TC1,Cell, TC2,Cell-Mediated Lympholytic Cell,Cytotoxic T Cell,Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes,Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte,Lymphocyte, Cytotoxic T,Lympholytic Cell, Cell-Mediated,Lympholytic Cells, Cell-Mediated,T Cell, Cytotoxic,T Lymphocyte, Cytotoxic,T Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic,T-Lymphocyte, Cytotoxic
D015938 Complement Membrane Attack Complex A product of COMPLEMENT ACTIVATION cascade, regardless of the pathways, that forms transmembrane channels causing disruption of the target CELL MEMBRANE and cell lysis. It is formed by the sequential assembly of terminal complement components (COMPLEMENT C5B; COMPLEMENT C6; COMPLEMENT C7; COMPLEMENT C8; and COMPLEMENT C9) into the target membrane. The resultant C5b-8-poly-C9 is the "membrane attack complex" or MAC. Complement Complex C5b-9,Membrane Attack Complex,C 5b-9,C5b-8-poly-C9,C5b-9,Cytolytic Terminal Complement Complex,Terminal Complement Complex,C5b 8 poly C9,Complement Complex C5b 9,Complement Complex, Terminal,Complex, Terminal Complement
D052899 Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins Proteins secreted from an organism which form membrane-spanning pores in target cells to destroy them. This is in contrast to PORINS and MEMBRANE TRANSPORT PROTEINS that function within the synthesizing organism and COMPLEMENT immune proteins. These pore forming cytotoxic proteins are a form of primitive cellular defense which are also found in human LYMPHOCYTES.

Related Publications

J D Young, and C C Liu, and P M Persechini
Multiple mechanisms of lymphocyte-mediated killing.
October 1988, Immunology today,
J D Young, and C C Liu, and P M Persechini
Molecular mechanisms of lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity.
August 2005, Cellular & molecular immunology,
J D Young, and C C Liu, and P M Persechini
Mechanisms of lymphocyte killing by HIV.
January 1997, Current opinion in hematology,
J D Young, and C C Liu, and P M Persechini
Proteases and lymphocyte cytotoxic killing mechanisms.
February 1993, Current opinion in immunology,
J D Young, and C C Liu, and P M Persechini
Role of granule proteins in lymphocyte-mediated killing.
January 1986, Journal of cellular biochemistry,
J D Young, and C C Liu, and P M Persechini
NFIL3 contributes to cytotoxic T lymphocyte-mediated killing.
February 2024, Open biology,
J D Young, and C C Liu, and P M Persechini
Mechanisms of lymphocyte-mediated lysis.
March 1989, Journal of cellular biochemistry,
J D Young, and C C Liu, and P M Persechini
Debate: the mechanism of lymphocyte-mediated killing. Lymphocyte-triggered internal target disintegration.
November 1991, Immunology today,
J D Young, and C C Liu, and P M Persechini
Regulation of lymphocyte-mediated killing by GTP-binding proteins.
March 2003, Journal of leukocyte biology,
J D Young, and C C Liu, and P M Persechini
Molecular mechanisms of lymphocyte activation.
January 1995, Nephrology, dialysis, transplantation : official publication of the European Dialysis and Transplant Association - European Renal Association,
Copied contents to your clipboard!