Biomaterial Database

Apoptotic contraction drives target cell release by cytotoxic T cells. 2023

Elisa E Sanchez, and Maria Tello-Lafoz, and Aixuan J Guo, and Miguel de Jesus, and Yassmin A Elbanna, and Benjamin Y Winer, and Sadna Budhu, and Eric Chan, and Eric Rosiek, and Taisuke Kondo, and Justyn DuSold, and Naomi Taylor, and Gregoire Altan-Bonnet, and Michael F Olson, and Morgan Huse

Immunology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) fight intracellular pathogens and cancer by identifying and destroying infected or transformed target cells1. To kill, CTLs form a specialized cytotoxic immune synapse (IS) with a target of interest and then release toxic perforin and granzymes into the interface to elicit programmed cell death2-5. The IS then dissolves, enabling CTLs to search for additional prey and professional phagocytes to clear the corpse6. While the mechanisms governing IS assembly have been studied extensively, far less is known about target cell release. Here, we applied time-lapse imaging to explore the basis for IS dissolution and found that it occurred concomitantly with the cytoskeletal contraction of apoptotic targets. Genetic and pharmacological perturbation of this contraction response indicated that it was both necessary and sufficient for CTL dissociation. We also found that mechanical amplification of apoptotic contractility promoted faster CTL detachment and serial killing. Collectively, these results establish a biophysical basis for IS dissolution and highlight the importance of mechanosensory feedback in the regulation of cell-cell interactions.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
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
D017209	Apoptosis	A regulated cell death mechanism characterized by distinctive morphologic changes in the nucleus and cytoplasm, including the endonucleolytic cleavage of genomic DNA, at regularly spaced, internucleosomal sites, i.e., DNA FRAGMENTATION. It is genetically programmed and serves as a balance to mitosis in regulating the size of animal tissues and in mediating pathologic processes associated with tumor growth.	Apoptosis, Extrinsic Pathway,Apoptosis, Intrinsic Pathway,Caspase-Dependent Apoptosis,Classic Apoptosis,Classical Apoptosis,Programmed Cell Death,Programmed Cell Death, Type I,Apoptoses, Extrinsic Pathway,Apoptoses, Intrinsic Pathway,Apoptosis, Caspase-Dependent,Apoptosis, Classic,Apoptosis, Classical,Caspase Dependent Apoptosis,Cell Death, Programmed,Classic Apoptoses,Extrinsic Pathway Apoptoses,Extrinsic Pathway Apoptosis,Intrinsic Pathway Apoptoses,Intrinsic Pathway Apoptosis
D053804	Granzymes	A family of serine endopeptidases found in the SECRETORY GRANULES of LEUKOCYTES such as CYTOTOXIC T-LYMPHOCYTES and NATURAL KILLER CELLS. When secreted into the intercellular space granzymes act to eliminate transformed and virus-infected host cells.	Cytotoxic Serine Protease B,Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte Associated 1 Protein,Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte Proteinase 1,Fragmentin 2,Granzyme,Granzyme A,Granzyme B,Granzyme C,Granzyme K,Granzyme M,Granzyme-3,Granzyme-Like Protein III,Hanukah Factor,NK-Tryptase-2,Natural Killer Cell Granule Tryptase-2,Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte Associated 1 Protein,Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte Proteinase 1,Granzyme 3,Granzyme Like Protein III,NK Tryptase 2,Natural Killer Cell Granule Tryptase 2
D054353	Perforin	A calcium-dependent pore-forming protein synthesized in cytolytic LYMPHOCYTES and sequestered in secretory granules. Upon immunological reaction between a cytolytic lymphocyte and a target cell, perforin is released at the plasma membrane and polymerizes into transmembrane tubules (forming pores) which lead to death of a target cell.	Cytolysin,Lymphocyte Pore-Forming Protein,Perforin 1,Lymphocyte Pore Forming Protein,Pore-Forming Protein, Lymphocyte