title: Granzymes regulate proinflammatory cytokine responses.
abstract: Granzymes (Grs) are serine proteases mainly produced by cytotoxic lymphocytes and are traditionally considered to cause apoptosis in tumor cells and virally infected cells. However, the cytotoxicity of several Grs is currently being debated, and additional, predominantly extracellular, functions of Grs in inflammation are emerging. Extracellular soluble Grs are elevated in the circulation of patients with autoimmune diseases and infections. Additionally, Grs are expressed by several types of immune cells other than cytotoxic lymphocytes. Recent research has revealed novel immunomodulatory functions of Grs. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview on the role of Grs in inflammation, highlighting their role in cytokine induction and processing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CX Utrecht, the Netherlands; and Laboratory of Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CX Utrecht, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Annette C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Wensink
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CX Utrecht, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: C Erik
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Hack
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CX Utrecht, the Netherlands; and Laboratory of Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CX Utrecht, the Netherlands n.bovenschen@umcutrecht.nl.
authors.forename: Niels
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bovenschen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology*; D053804:Granzymes / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D053804:Granzymes