Medullasin induces activated killer cells from human lymphocytes.
Treatment of human lymphocytes with a physiological amount of medullasin, a serine protease found in bone marrow cells, resulted in the induction of activated killer cells which can lyse both natural killer-sensitive and -resistant target cells. The optimum concentration of medullasin was 20 micrograms/ml when lymphocytes were treated with the protease at 37 degrees C for 60 min. Kinetic studies of the induction revealed that the maximum induction was achieved 24 hr after medullasin treatment.
D002460:Cell Line; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000494:pharmacology*
D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; C034869:medullasin