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Delivering the kiss of death

Nature Immunology volume 4, pages 399–403 (2003)Cite this article

Abstract

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes and natural killer cells kill their targets by secreting specialized granules that contain potent cytotoxic molecules. Through the study of rare immunodeficiency diseases in which this granule pathway of killing is impaired, proteins such as Rab27a have been identified as components of the secretory machinery of these killer cells. Recent evidence suggests that the destruction of activated lymphocytes through granule-mediated killing may be an important mechanism of immunological homeostasis. Although the process by which this occurs is not yet known, it is possible that events taking place at the immunological synapse may render the killer cell susceptible to fratricidal attack by other killer cells.

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Figure 1: The secretory synapse.
Figure 2: Transfer of membrane proteins at the synapse.
Figure 3: Acquisition of target-derived MHC class I.

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Acknowledgements

We thank G. Bossi and J. Stinchcombe for Figures 1–3, and J. Kaufman for comments on the manuscript. The work of our laboratory is funded by grants from the Wellcome Trust.

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  1. Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3RE, UK

    Christina M. Trambas & Gillian M. Griffiths

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Correspondence to Gillian M. Griffiths.

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Trambas, C., Griffiths, G. Delivering the kiss of death. Nat Immunol 4, 399–403 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/ni0503-399

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