Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 14, 2026

Live Imaging Assay for Assessing the Roles of Ca2+ and Sphingomyelinase in the Repair of Pore-forming Toxin Wounds
Published on: August 25, 2013
Assembly of macromolecular pores by immune defense systems
1University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland.
Abstract:
Immune defence systems (complement, cytolytic lymphocytes) make use of transmembrane pores assembled from up to 20 soluble monomers in a highly regulated process to induce cell death. Inhibitors of pore formation have been found which protect blood, endothelial and epithelial cells from the destructive effect of complement lesions. Recently, a pore-forming protein showing immunological crossreactivity to complement C9 has been found in the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, thereby extending this protein family and generalizing its means of generating non-selective membrane permeability.
Related Concept Videos
What is the Immune System?
Cell-mediated Immune Responses
Protein Complex Assembly
Many viruses self-assemble into a fully functional unit using the infected host cell to...
Mechanisms of Membrane Domain Formation
Another mechanism for membrane domain formation involves membrane proteins interacting with cytoskeletal...
Structure of Porins
Antigen Presenting Cells
T cells require the help of antigen-presenting cells (APCs), which process foreign antigens into smaller fragments that can be recognized by T cells. These APCs are highly specialized cells that efficiently internalize antigens...

