Constitutive expression of pore-forming protein in peripheral blood gamma/delta T cells: implication for their cytotoxic role in vivo

J Exp Med. 1990 Dec 1;172(6):1877-80. doi: 10.1084/jem.172.6.1877.

Abstract

The cytotoxic activity and pore-forming protein (PFP) expression of human peripheral blood (PB) gamma/delta T cells were examined. Fresh gamma/delta T cells isolated from PB lymphocytes by fluorescence-activated cell sorting exhibited a substantial natural killer-like cytotoxic activity against K562 target cells and had a high cytotoxic potential triggered by anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody (mAb) against P815 target cells bearing Fc gamma R. Immunocytochemical staining with an anti-PFP mAb revealed that virtually all PB gamma/delta T cells are granular lymphocytes with abundant PFP in their cytoplasmic granules. Constitutive expression of PFP in PB gamma/delta T cells was also demonstrated by Northern blot analysis. These observations support the proposed role of gamma/delta T cells in cytolytic immune surveillance in vivo.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antigens, CD / analysis
  • Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / analysis
  • CD8 Antigens
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cytotoxicity, Immunologic*
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-2 / pharmacology
  • Killer Cells, Natural / drug effects
  • Killer Cells, Natural / immunology
  • Membrane Glycoproteins*
  • Membrane Proteins / analysis
  • Membrane Proteins / immunology*
  • Perforin
  • Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antigens, CD
  • Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte
  • CD8 Antigens
  • Interleukin-2
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell
  • Perforin