Granzyme B is a serine protease found in the lymphocyte granules of activated cytotoxic T cells and NK cells. Lymphocyte granule-mediated cytotoxicity appears to protect the host from invasion by pathogens and tumor cells. Granzyme B is critically involved in the rapid apoptotic signal delivered by CTL and NK cells. Following adhesion of the cytotoxic cell to the target, granzyme B is directly exocytosed and enters the target cell, assisted by perforin, a membrane pore-forming protein also present in lymphocyte granules. Perforin polymerizes into transmembrane pores facilitating intracellular delivery of the granzymes. The granzyme B Elispot assay offers a rapid, technically …
No comments:
Post a Comment