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Updated: May 31, 2026
A Colorimetric Assay that Specifically Measures Granzyme B Proteolytic Activity: Hydrolysis of Boc-Ala-Ala-Asp-S-Bzl
Published on: November 28, 2014
Increased inherent intestinal granzyme B expression may be associated with SIV pathogenesis in Asian non-human
A T Hutchison1, J E Schmitz, C J Miller
1University of Texas Health Science Center-Medical School at Houston, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Houston, 77030, USA. Alexander.T.Hutchison@uth.tmc.edu
Background:
Unlike Asian non-human primates, chronically SIV-infected African non-human primates (NHP) display a non-pathogenic disease course. The different outcomes may be related to the development of an SIV-mediated breach of the intestinal mucosa in the Asian species that is absent in the African animals.
Methods:
To examine possible mechanisms that could lead to the gut breach, we determined whether the colonic lamina propria (LP) of SIV-naïve Asian monkeys contained more granzyme B (GrB) producing CD4 T cells than did that of the African species. GrB is a serine protease that may disrupt mucosal integrity by damaging tight junction proteins.
Results:
We found that the colonic LP of Asian NHP contain more CD4(+) /GrB(+) cells than African NHP. We also observed reduced CD4 expression on LP T cells in African green monkeys.
Conclusion:
Both phenotypic differences could protect against SIV-mediated damage to the intestinal mucosa and could lead to future therapies in HIV(+) humans.
