Perforin is present only in normal activated Lyt2+ T lymphocytes and not in L3T4+ cells, but the serine protease granzyme A is made by both subsets.
We show that among the subsets of peripheral T lymphocytes (Lyt2+ L3T4- and L3T4+ Lyt2- cells) activated in short-term cultures by stimulation with H-2 incompatible leukocytes 97% of the cytolytic activity and all detectable perforin activity resides in the Lyt2+ cells. But both populations contain approximately equal amounts of a serine protease, granzyme A, the expression of which was previously thought to be restricted to cytolytic T lymphocytes.
Garcia-Sanz
J A
JA
Plaetinck
G
G
Velotti
F
F
Masson
D
D
Tschopp
J
J
MacDonald
H R
HR
Nabholz
M
M
D000818:Animals; D000950:Antigens, Ly / Q000032:analysis*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000201:enzymology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D010450:Endopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism*; D053804:Granzymes; D006461:Hemolysis; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology*
D000950:Antigens, Ly; D010450:Endopeptidases; D053804:Granzymes; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases