title: Cell death mechanisms induced by cytotoxic lymphocytes.
abstract: One of the functions of the immune system is to recognize and destroy abnormal or infected cells to maintain homeostasis. This is accomplished by cytotoxic lymphocytes. Cytotoxicity is a highly organized multifactor process. Here, we reviewed the apoptosis pathways induced by the two main cytotoxic lymphocyte subsets, natural killer (NK) cells and CD8+ T cells. In base to recent experimental evidence, we reviewed NK receptors involved in recognition of target-cell, as well as lytic molecules such as perforin, granzymes-A and -B, and granulysin. In addition, we reviewed the Fas-FasL intercellular linkage mediated pathway, and briefly the cross-linking of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and TNF receptor pathway. We discussed three models of possible molecular interaction between lytic molecules from effector cytotoxic cells and target-cell membrane to induction of apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquimica, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias "Ismael Cosio Villegas", Mexico.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chávez-Galán
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Arenas-Del Angel
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zenteno
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chávez
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lascurain
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000378:metabolism; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000276:immunology*; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D005089:Exocytosis / Q000276:immunology; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D053200:Fas-Associated Death Domain Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D053804:Granzymes / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D054353:Perforin / Q000378:metabolism; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D053200:Fas-Associated Death Domain Protein; C075005:GNLY protein, human; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D054353:Perforin; D053804:Granzymes