Alternative and Complementary Medicine Commons^™

Ca2+ Signaling Modulates Cytolytic T Lymphocyte Effector Functions, Mark T. Esser, Doris M. Haverstick, Claudette L. Fuller, Charles A. Gullo Phd, Vivian Lam Braciale

Biochemistry and Microbiology

Cytolytic T cells use two mechanisms to kill virally infected cells, tumor cells, or other potentially autoreactive T cells in short-term in vitro assays. The perforin/granule exocytosis mechanism uses preformed cytolytic granules that are delivered to the target cell to induce apoptosis and eventual lysis. FasL/Fas (CD95 ligand/CD95)–mediated cytolysis requires de novo protein synthesis of FasL by the CTL and the presence of the death receptor Fas on the target cell to induce apoptosis. Using a CD8⁺ CTL clone that kills via both the perforin/granule exocytosis and FasL/Fas mechanisms, and a clone that kills via the FasL/Fas mechanism only, …