Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 22, 2026
09:14
Static Adhesion Assay for the Study of Integrin Activation in T Lymphocytes
Published on: June 13, 2014
14.7K
Lytic granules, adhesion molecules, and other recent insights
1Department of Microbiology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01002, USA.
Immunology Today
|October 8, 2014
Summary
Researchers discovered cell-free mediators from cytotoxic lymphocytes (TC) and natural killer (NK) cells. These mediators demonstrate potent cytolytic activity, effectively lysing tumor cells in vitro.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Cell-mediated lysis is a critical immune process.
- Natural killer (NK) cells and cytotoxic T lymphocytes (TC) are key players in cell-mediated immunity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and characterize the molecules responsible for cell-mediated lysis.
- To investigate the role of granule preparations from lymphocytes in cytolytic activity.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of granule preparations from large granular lymphocytes with NK activity.
- Testing the cytolytic activity of these preparations on tumor cells and cloned TC lines.
- Collaboration across multiple laboratories to confirm findings.
Main Results:
- Detection of significant cytolytic activity in granule preparations.
- Identification of cell-free mediators with potent lytic properties.
- Demonstration of rapid and complete lysis of tumor cell populations (P815, EL4) by these mediators at sufficient concentrations.
Conclusions:
- Cell-free mediators from lymphocyte granules are likely effector molecules in TC and NK cell-mediated lysis.
- These findings represent a significant advancement in understanding the mechanism of cell-mediated cytotoxicity.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Adherens Junctions
5.8K
Strong contact points between adjacent cells anchor them to each other, forming tissues. Such anchoring junctions are of two types – adherens junctions and desmosomes. Adherens junctions are abundant in tissues such as epithelium and endothelium, forming a continuous zone of adhesion called the adhesion belt. In other tissues, such as heart muscle, they appear as clusters, linking the cells to produce coordinated heart muscle contraction.
Adherens Junctions are Dynamic
Adherens Junctions are Dynamic
5.8K
01:17Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions
2.7K
Integrins act both as extracellular input receivers and as intracellular processing activators. As their name suggests, integrins are entirely integrated into the membrane structure. Their hydrophobic membrane-spanning regions interact with the phospholipid bilayer's hydrophobic region. These membrane receptors provide extracellular attachment sites for effectors like hormones and growth factors. They activate intracellular response cascades when their effectors are bound and active.
Some...
Some...
2.7K
01:25Selectins
3.6K
Cell adhesion is an essential aspect of multicellularity. While stable cell interactions usually occur between cells of the same type, transient cell interactions occur between cells of different tissue types, such as between neutrophils and endothelial cells. Selectins are one class of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) that bind carbohydrate ligands to form transient cell adhesion. They are rod-like proteins with a long extracellular part of variable length ending with the lectin domain,...
3.6K
01:31Immunoglobulin-like Cell Adhesion Molecules
3.3K
Immunoglobulin-like cell adhesion molecules or Ig-CAMs are a versatile group of cell surface glycoproteins belonging to the immunoglobulin protein superfamily. Ig-CAMs possess the characteristic immunoglobulin protein domains and other domains such as the fibronectin type III domain. The Ig domains are glycosylated to varying degrees in different Ig-CAMs.
Ig-CAMs exhibit either homophilic binding (to other Ig-CAMs) or heterophilic binding (to other ligands such as integrins). While most Ig-CAMs...
Ig-CAMs exhibit either homophilic binding (to other Ig-CAMs) or heterophilic binding (to other ligands such as integrins). While most Ig-CAMs...
3.3K
01:14Glycocalyx and its Functions
9.1K
The glycocalyx is a carbohydrate-rich, fuzzy-appearing layer on the outer surface of the cell membrane. It is highly hydrophilic, because of this it attracts large amounts of water to the cell's surface. This aids the cell's interaction with the watery environment and also helps it to obtain substances dissolved in the water. It is also important for cell identification, self/non-self determination, and embryonic development and is used in cell-to-cell attachments to form tissues.
9.1K
01:20Cell Adhesion Molecules - Types and Functions
8.0K
Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) are pivotal to multicellularity and the coordinated functioning of tissues and organ systems. They enable physical interactions between cells and provide mechanical strength to tissues. They also function as receptors for signal transmission across the plasma membrane. The CAMs are broadly classified into four families - integrins, cadherins, selectins, and immunoglobulin-like CAMs (IgCAMs).
CAM Families
The Integrin family of proteins is primarily involved...
CAM Families
The Integrin family of proteins is primarily involved...
8.0K