Abstract
Natural Killer cells are a subset of cytotoxic lymphocytes that are important in host defense against infections and transformed cells. They exert this function through recognition of target cells by cell surface receptors, which triggers a signaling program that results in a re-orientation of the microtubule organizing center and secretory lysosomes toward the target cell. Upon movement of secretory lysosomes to the plasma membrane and subsequent fusion, toxic proteins are released by secretory lysosomes in the immunological synapse which then enter and kill the target cell. In this minireview we highlight recent progress in our knowledge of late steps in this specialized secretion pathway and address important open questions.
Highlights
Natural Killer cells are a subset of cytotoxic lymphocytes that are important in host defense against infections and transformed cells
cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) are activated via the T cell receptor (TCR) that interacts with MHC class I molecules and cognate antigenic peptides derived from target cells
The first of which involves the interaction of Fas ligand on CTL and Natural Killer (NK) cells with Fas receptor on the target cell, which causes receptor oligomerization and apoptosis of the target cell [3]
Summary
Natural Killer cells are a subset of cytotoxic lymphocytes that are important in host defense against infections and transformed cells. The lytic granule pathway involves the vectorial and polarized trafficking of the granules toward the immunological synapse and the re-organization of the microtubule organizing center toward the target cell and subsequent release of cytotoxic proteins.
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