title: Late steps in secretory lysosome exocytosis in cytotoxic lymphocytes.
abstract: Natural Killer cells are a subset of cytotoxic lymphocytes that are important in host defense against infections and transformed cells. They exert this function through recognition of target cells by cell surface receptors, which triggers a signaling program that results in a re-orientation of the microtubule organizing center and secretory lysosomes toward the target cell. Upon movement of secretory lysosomes to the plasma membrane and subsequent fusion, toxic proteins are released by secretory lysosomes in the immunological synapse which then enter and kill the target cell. In this minireview we highlight recent progress in our knowledge of late steps in this specialized secretion pathway and address important open questions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, University Medical Center Utrecht , Utrecht , Netherlands.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: van der Sluijs
authors.forename: Mallik
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zibouche
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: van Kerkhof
keywords: degranulation; endosomes; lytic granules; maturation; secretory lysosomes