Cytoplasts from cytotoxic T lymphocytes are resistant to perforin-mediated lysis

ORCiD

David M. Ojcius: 0000-0003-1461-4495

Department

Biomedical Sciences

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Molecular Immunology

ISSN

0161-5890

Volume

28

Issue

9

DOI

10.1016/0161-5890(91)90187-O

First Page

1011

Last Page

1018

Publication Date

9-1-1991

Abstract

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) contain a potent cytolytic pore-forming protein (PFP, perforin or cytolysin) localized in their cytoplasmic granules. In the presence of calcium, perforin lyses a variety of target cells (TC) non-specifically. CTL, however, are generally resistant to the lytic effect of perforin. In this work, cytoplasts from CTL and susceptible TC were made by centrifuging cells on a Ficoll density gradient in the presence of cytochalasin B. Characterization by electron microscopy and a serine esterase assay established that both CTL and TC cytoplasts were completely devoid of nuclei and CTL cytoplasts contained essentially no granules. CTL cytoplasts are just as resistant to perforin-mediated lysis as the intact CTL, and both TC and their corresponding cytoplasts are very sensitive to lysis. Furthermore, CTL cytoplasts are less effective than TC cytoplasts in inhibiting hemolysis, a property shared by the respective intact cells. These results indicate that soluble granular components do not confer resistance on CTL, and suggest that the protective agent(s) acts by impeding perforin binding to the CTL membrane.

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