Your browser version may not work well with NCBI's Web applications. More information here...
1: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1999 Nov 23;96(24):13950-5.
Related Articles, Links
Click here to read Click here to read
Granzymes are the essential downstream effector molecules for the control of primary virus infections by cytolytic leukocytes.

Müllbacher A, Waring P, Tha Hla R, Tran T, Chin S, Stehle T, Museteanu C, Simon MM.

Division of Immunology, John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia. arno.mullbacher@anu.edu.au

Analysis of perforin-deficient mice has identified the cytolytic pathway and perforin as the preeminent effector molecule in T cell-mediated control of virus infections. In this paper, we show that mice lacking both granzyme A (gzmA) and granzyme B (gzmB), which are, beside perforin, key constituents of cytolytic vesicles, are as incapable as are perforin-deficient mice of controlling primary infections by the natural mouse pathogen ectromelia, a poxvirus. Death of gzmAxgzmB double knockout mice occurred in a dose-dependent manner, despite the expression of functionally active perforin and the absence of an intrinsic defect to generate splenic cytolytic T cells. These results establish that both gzmA and gzmB are indispensable effector molecules acting in concert with perforin in granule exocytosis-mediated host defense against natural viral pathogens.

Publication Types:
PMID: 10570179 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

PMCID: PMC24171