Quiescent and activated mouse granulocytes do not express granzyme A and B or perforin: similarities or differences with human polymorphonuclear leukocytes?
Polymorphonuclear leukocytes have been shown to use a multitude of effector functions to combat pathogens and tumors, including enzymes, defensins, and toxic products such as oxygen radicals and nitrogen oxides. Recent studies provided evidence for the expression of granzymes (gzms) and perforin (perf) within the cytotoxic arsenal of human neutrophils, the validity of which was questioned by 2 subsequent studies. We have now used cytology, intracellular flow cytometry, enzymatic assays, immunoelectron microscopy, and quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction to obtain evidence of the presence of gzms and/or perf in mouse Gr-1+ granulocyte populations. The data obtained clearly demonstrate that neither in vitro- nor in vivo-derived mouse granulocytes synthesize gzmA and gzmB or perf, even following infection/immunization with pathogens or pathogen-derived material. A parallel comparable analysis on the expression of gzmB in human neutrophils from 3 healthy control subjects and 4 patients with diverse diseases failed to detect gzmB expression. The data indicate that polymorphonuclear leukocytes from mice and humans lack the 3 cytotoxic effector molecules, gzmA, gzmB, and perf, generally associated with natural killer and cytotoxic T lymphocytes.
Max-Planck-Institut für Immunbiologie, Stübeweg 51, Freiburg, Germany.
Praxedis
P
Martin
Reinhard
R
Wallich
Julian
J
Pardo
Arno
A
Müllbacher
Markus
M
Munder
Manuel
M
Modolell
Markus M
MM
Simon
D000818:Animals; D001853:Bone Marrow; D002384:Catalysis; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002460:Cell Line; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006098:Granulocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D053804:Granzymes; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000378:metabolism*; D054353:Perforin; D010641:Phenotype; D052899:Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000235:genetics
D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D052899:Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins; D054353:Perforin; C509213:GZMB protein, human; D053804:Granzymes; C509214:Gzmb protein, mouse; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; C509212:GZMA protein, human