title: Granzyme B: a natural born killer.
abstract: A main pathway used by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) and natural killer cells to eliminate pathogenic cells is via exocytosis of granule components in the direction of the target cell, delivering a lethal hit of cytolytic molecules. Amongst these, granzyme B and perforin have been shown to induce CTL-mediated target cell DNA fragmentation and apoptosis. Once released from the CTL, granzyme B binds its receptor, the mannose-6-phosphate/insulin-like growth factor II receptor, and is endocytosed but remains arrested in endocytic vesicles until released by perforin. Once in the cytosol, granzyme B targets caspase-3 directly or indirectly through the mitochondria, initiating the caspase cascade to DNA fragmentation and apoptosis. Caspase activity is required for apoptosis to occur; however, in the absence of caspase activity, granzyme B can still initiate mitochondrial events via the cleavage of Bid. Recent work shows that granzyme B-mediated release of apoptotic factors from the mitochondria is essential for the full activation of caspase-3. Thus, granzyme B acts at multiple points to initiate the death of the offending cell. Studies of the granzyme B death receptor and internal signaling pathways may lead to critical advances in cell transplantation and cancer therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Sarah J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lord
authors.forename: Ray V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Rajotte
authors.forename: Gregory S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Korbutt
authors.forename: R Chris
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Bleackley
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000276:immunology; D020169:Caspases / Q000276:immunology; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000276:immunology; D053804:Granzymes; D006801:Humans; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000276:immunology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000276:immunology*; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: C509213:GZMB protein, human; D053804:Granzymes; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; D020169:Caspases