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Methods to Assess Beta Cell Death Mediated by Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes
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How lymphocytes kill.

L H Young1, C C Liu, S Joag

  • 1Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Boston 02114.

Annual Review of Medicine
|January 1, 1990
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes and natural killer cells use cytotoxic molecules in granules to kill target cells. These molecules are implicated in fighting infections and autoimmune diseases.

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Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) and natural killer (NK) cells are key immune cells.
  • These cells possess cytoplasmic granules containing cytotoxic effector molecules.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the function of molecules within cytotoxic lymphocyte granules.
  • To understand the role of these molecules in cell-mediated immunity and disease.

Main Methods:

  • Isolation and characterization of cytotoxic peptides and other factors from lymphocyte granules.
  • Functional assays to determine the cytotoxic activity of isolated molecules.

Main Results:

  • Identification of several cytotoxic molecules within lymphocyte granules.
  • Demonstration of the direct involvement of these molecules in target cell lysis.

Conclusions:

  • Cytotoxic molecules from CTLs and NK cells are crucial for eliminating virus-infected and transformed cells.
  • These molecules may also play a role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune disorders.