Abstract
Granzyme B (GrB) has been implicated in induction of apoptosis in target cells. The presence of GrB in peripheral blood CD8+ T cells from healthy individuals was analysed in immunocytochemical and flow cytometric studies. Furthermore, CD8+ GrB- T cells and CD8+ GrB+ T cells were compared regarding phenotypical characteristics and susceptibility to both spontaneous and Fasmediated apoptosis. GrB was expressed by approximately one-fifth of CD8+ T cells. Compared with the CD8+ GrB- T-cell subset, the CD8+ GrB+ T-cell subset contained cells that were relatively more activated and more prone to spontaneous apoptosis. Culturing of cells with immunoglobulin M (IgM) anti-Fas monoclonal antibody had no additional effect on the number of CD8+ GrB+ T cells undergoing apoptosis. We suggest that the presence of CD8+ GrB+ T cells in peripheral blood from healthy individuals results from immune surveillance or contact with infectious agents, and that spontaneous apoptosis of these cells might serve as a mechanism for their eventual clearance
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 383-389 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Immunology |
Volume | 93 |
Issue number | 3 |
Publication status | Published - Mar 1998 |
Keywords
- Antibodies, Monoclonal/pharmacology
- Apoptosis/drug effects
- CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/enzymology
- Cells, Cultured
- Flow Cytometry
- Granzymes
- Humans
- Immunohistochemistry
- Lymphocyte Activation
- Lymphocyte Subsets/immunology
- Serine Endopeptidases/analysis
- fas Receptor/immunology