title: Myosin IIA is required for cytolytic granule exocytosis in human NK cells.
abstract: Natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity involves the formation of an activating immunological synapse (IS) between the effector and target cell through which granzymes and perforin contained in lytic granules are delivered to the target cell via exocytosis. Inhibition of nonmuscle myosin II in human NK cells with blebbistatin or ML-9 impaired neither effector-target cell conjugation nor formation of a mature activating NK cell IS (NKIS; formation of an actin ring and polarization of the microtubule-organizing center and cytolytic granules to the center of the ring). However, membrane fusion of lytic granules, granzyme secretion, and NK cell cytotoxicity were all effectively blocked. Specific knockdown of the myosin IIA heavy chain by RNA interference impaired cytotoxicity, membrane fusion of lytic granules, and granzyme secretion. Thus, myosin IIA is required for a critical step between NKIS formation and granule exocytosis.
authors: Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
authors: Milena M
authors: MM
authors: Andzelm
authors: Xi
authors: X
authors: Chen
authors: Konrad
authors: K
authors: Krzewski
authors: Jordan S
authors: JS
authors: Orange
authors: Jack L
authors: JL
authors: Strominger
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D048430:Cell Shape / Q000276:immunology; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005089:Exocytosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D024507:Nonmuscle Myosin Type IIA / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D034622:RNA Interference
chemical_list: D024507:Nonmuscle Myosin Type IIA