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Regulation of perforin-independent NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity.

Natural killer (NK) cells have been thought to depend largely on perforin-mediated mechanisms for the induction of cell death in targets. However, this view has more recently been challenged. It is now clear that NK cells are capable of using death ligands like Fas ligand (FasL) or tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) to induce cytotoxicity. Still, relatively little is known about the control of these "perforin-independent" cell death eliciting reactions, for example, the regulation of FasL expression on NK cells. In the present study, we confirm the ability of NK cells to mediate target cytotoxicity in the absence of perforin, in vivo and in vitro. We show that the induction of perforin-independent NK cell-mediated cell death is prevented by inhibiting signals mediated by MHC class I recognition. Furthermore, we demonstrate in vitro that cross-linking of the activation receptor NK1.1 on NK cells leads to the up-regulation of FasL on the cell surface. However, simultaneous engagement of an MHC class I binding inhibitory receptor prevents the externalization of FasL. These results provide a mechanistic explanation for theMHC class I-dependent regulation of perforin-independent cytotoxicity.

Animals↗

NKT-associated markers and perforin in hyperplastic thymuses from patients with Myasthenia gravis.

Immunohistochemical expression of natural killer T (NKT) cell-associated markers (Valpha24 and CD56) and perforin in relation to CD44-highly positive (CD44(high)) cells was studied in hyperplastic thymuses from patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) whose symptoms dramatically improved after thymectomy and compared with non-MG control thymuses. In the control thymuses, Valpha24-positive (Valpha24(+)) and CD56-positive (CD56(+)) cells were sparsely distributed in the medullary area only. In contrast, in hyperplastic MG thymus, Valpha24(+) and CD56(+) cells were more frequent in connective tissue, appeared to have penetrated the thymic parenchyma, and most coexpressed CD44(high). Perforin-positive cells were not present in the control thymus, but were in the connective tissue and perilobular cortical areas in the hyperplastic MG thymus. Most of these perforin-positive cells were CD44(high) and were located near blood vessels. They appeared to have migrated directly from the vascular system and penetrated the thymic parenchyma. Some perforin-positive cells coexpressed Valpha24, CD56, or both. These findings suggest that in this particular type of MG thymus, NKT-like cells may have increased via a CD44- and perforin-mediated mechanism, leading to an imbalance in the immune system that favored an antibody-mediated autoimmunity against the acetylcholine receptor.

Adolescent↗

Effects of interleukins 2 and 12 on the levels of granzyme B and perforin and their mRNAs in tributyltin-exposed human natural killer cells.

Natural killer (NK) cells are a subset of lymphocytes that are capable of killing tumor cells, virally infected cells and antibody coated cells. Tributyltin (TBT) is a toxic chemical used for various industrial purposes such as: slime control in paper mills, disinfection of circulating industrial cooling waters, anti-fouling agents, and the preservation of wood. TBT can be found in edible items such as fish. A previous study showed that a 1 h exposure of NK cells to TBT caused persistent inhibition of NK-cell ability to destroy tumor cells in the 24 and 48 h periods following exposure and that this loss of function could be significantly prevented and/or reversed if the NK-stimulatory interleukins (IL) 2 or 12 were present during the 24 and 48 h periods. We had also shown that TBT exposure was able to significantly decrease the protein and mRNA levels of the cytotoxic proteins, granzyme B and perforin, and the phosphorylation of cAMP-response-element-binding protein (CREB) under these conditions. In this study we address the effects of IL-2 and IL-12 on the TBT-induced decreases in NK-cell levels of the cytotoxic proteins, their mRNAs, and CREB phosphorylation. IL-2 appeared to prevent/reverse TBT-induced declines in perforin protein levels and the mRNA for perforin seen in the 24 h period following a 1 h exposure to 300 nM TBT. However, the TBT-induced decreases in the levels of perforin and perforin mRNA seen in the 48 h period following a 1 h exposure to TBT were not statistically significantly prevented/reversed by IL-2. Additionally, the TBT-induced decreases in granzyme B, granzyme B mRNA, and CREB phosphorylation were not statistically significantly reversed by either IL-2 or IL-12 after 24 or 48 h.

Adult↗

Differential expression of granulysin and perforin by NK cells in cancer patients and correlation of impaired granulysin expression with progression of cancer.

Granulysin has been identified as an effector molecule co-localized with perforin in the cytotoxic granules of cytotoxic T lymphocytes and natural killer (NK) cells, and has been reported to kill intracellular pathogens in infected cells in the presence of perforin and to induce a cytotoxic effect against tumor cells. The aim of the present study was to elucidate whether intracellular expression of granulysin and perforin by NK cells might be associated with progression of cancer. Flow cytometric analysis demonstrated high levels of perforin and granulysin expression by CD3(-) CD16(+) cells in healthy controls. In contrast, cancer patients exhibited significantly decreased levels of granulysin expression ( P<0.005), despite having equally high levels of perforin expression in comparison with healthy controls. The tumor-free patients expressed granulysin at levels similar to healthy controls, while the progressive tumor-bearing patients expressed remarkably lower levels of granulysin compared to healthy controls ( P<0.0001). Similarly, patients with an advanced performance status had significantly fewer granulysin-positive NK cells than healthy controls. Meanwhile, a considerable number of the tumor-bearing patients showed a decrease in the number of circulating NK cells, and a correlation between impaired granulysin expression and reduced circulating NK cells was observed. These findings suggest that the tumor-bearing patients with impaired granulysin expression were in an immunosuppressive state. In conclusion, impaired expression of granulysin by NK cells correlates with progression of cancer, and determination of granulysin expression might prove informative for assessing the immunological condition of cancer patients.

Adult↗

Apoptosis in the intestinal mucosa of patients with inflammatory bowel disease: evidence of altered expression of FasL and perforin cytotoxic pathways.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Abnormal apoptosis may result in the persistence of activated intestinal T-cells in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We investigated apoptosis in distinct mucosal compartments, and the expression of Fas/Fas ligand and perforin in the inflamed and non-inflamed intestinal mucosa of patients with IBD. METHODS: Colon specimens from 15 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and inflamed and non-inflamed mucosa from 15 patients with Crohn's disease (CD) were analysed for densities and distribution of apoptotic cells determined by the terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUDP-biotin nick-end labelling (TUNEL) method. Fas, FasL, and perforin-expressing cells were assessed by immunoperoxidase, and with anti-CD3, anti-CD20 and anti-CD68, by double immunofluorescence with confocal microscopy. Quantitative analysis was performed using a computer-assisted image analyser. RESULTS: Colonic lamina propria (LP) and epithelium from patients with UC showed higher rates of apoptosis than controls, but no difference was shown regarding patients with CD. In LP, co-expression of Fas was reduced with T-cells in inflamed CD mucosa, and with macrophages in all patients with IBD. No difference was found in the expression of Fas on B-cells. Rates of FasL-expressing cells in LP were higher in IBD than in controls, with no correlation with the rates of apoptosis. Rates of perforin-expressing cells in LP were greater in UC than in controls, and correlated to the rates of apoptosis. No difference was shown regarding the inflamed and non-inflamed CD mucosa. Rates of FasL and perforin-expressing intra-epithelial lymphocytes showed no difference among groups. CONCLUSIONS: Increased expression of FasL in IBD colonic LP not parallelled by Fas on T-cells and macrophages may indicate a reduced susceptibility to the Fas/FasL-mediated apoptosis of lymphoid cells. Expression of perforin is correlated to the tissue damage, and may represent the enhancement of a distinct cytotoxic pathway in UC.

Adolescent↗

The role of perforin-mediated apoptosis in lichen planus lesions.

Lichen planus is recognized as a T-cell-mediated disease. Histologically, it is characterized by the formation of colloid bodies representing apoptotic keratinocytes. The apoptotic process mediated by CD8(+) cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) and NK cells mainly involves two distinct pathways: the perforin/granzyme pathway and the Fas/FasL pathway. So far, little is known regarding the role of perforin-mediated apoptosis in lichen planus. In the present study, the expression and distribution of perforin, T and NK cell subsets in the epidermis and dermis of lesional and nonlesional lichen planus skin were studied. Skin biopsy specimens from lesional and nonlesional skin of ten patients with lichen planus and eight healthy persons were analysed by immunohistochemistry. Significant accumulation of T cells, particularly of CD4(+) and CD8(+) subsets, was found in both epidermis and dermis of lichen planus lesions compared with nonlesional and healthy skin. There were no significant differences in the incidence of NK cells (CD16(+) and CD56(+)) between lesional, nonlesional and healthy skin. Perforin expression was significantly upregulated in the epidermis of lichen planus lesions. In conclusion, accumulation of perforin(+) cells in the epidermis of lichen planus lesions suggest a potential role of perforin in the apoptosis of basal keratinocytes.

Adult↗

Differential susceptibility of type III erythrocytes of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria to lysis mediated by complement and perforin.

Previous reports have suggested that a 65 kDa membrane protein, termed homologous restriction factor (HRF), in addition to protecting erythrocytes (E) against lysis by homologous complement (C), may also be involved in protecting cytolytic lymphocytes against lysis mediated by a pore-forming protein (PFP/perforin), one of their own lytic mediators. Here, we used HRF-deficient type III E of patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) to study their susceptibility to lysis mediated by homologous C and perforin, and compared it with lysis of HRF-bearing control or PNH type I E. We show that type III E of PNH patients are indeed more susceptible to lysis mediated by homologous C than control or type I E, but they are as susceptible to perforin-mediated lysis as type I E. In addition, all human E (type I or III) tested here are equally susceptible to lysis mediated by either human (homologous) or murine (heterologous) perforin. By immunoblot analysis, we confirm that type III E, in contrast to type I E, were deficient in the 65 kDa HRF. These results support the notion that homologous species restriction is seen in the C- but not in the lymphocyte perforin-system and argue against an active participation of HRF in protecting cells from perforin-mediated lysis.

Animals↗

Cytoplasts from cytotoxic T lymphocytes are resistant to perforin-mediated lysis.

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) contain a potent cytolytic pore-forming protein (PFP, perforin or cytolysin) localized in their cytoplasmic granules. In the presence of calcium, perforin lyses a variety of target cells (TC) non-specifically. CTL, however, are generally resistant to the lytic effect of perforin. In this work, cytoplasts from CTL and susceptible TC were made by centrifuging cells on a Ficoll density gradient in the presence of cytochalasin B. Characterization by electron microscopy and a serine esterase assay established that both CTL and TC cytoplasts were completely devoid of nuclei and CTL cytoplasts contained essentially no granules. CTL cytoplasts are just as resistant to perforin-mediated lysis as the intact CTL, and both TC and their corresponding cytoplasts are very sensitive to lysis. Furthermore, CTL cytoplasts are less effective than TC cytoplasts in inhibiting hemolysis, a property shared by the respective intact cells. These results indicate that soluble granular components do not confer resistance on CTL, and suggest that the protective agent(s) acts by impeding perforin binding to the CTL membrane.

Animals↗

Sulfonyl fluoride serine protease inhibitors inactivate RNK-16 lymphocyte granule proteases and reduce lysis by granule extracts and perforin.

Cytolytic granules purified from natural killer lymphocytes (NK) contain a pore-forming protein (perforin) and a number of serine proteases. When these proteases are inhibited by serine protease-specific isocoumarin reagents the serine proteases are inactivated and the cytolytic activity of the granules is decreased. Paradoxically, it has been found that the general serine protease inhibitor phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF) frequently cannot block killing even though it inhibits many of the serine proteases. At the same time it has been reported that "purified" perforin alone can lyze cells. To address these inconsistencies we first compared the ability of PMSF and four new sulfonyl fluoride serine protease inhibitors to inhibit proteases and cell lysis. We determined the effects on lysis and the second order inhibition rate constants for five granule protease activities: ly-tryptase, ly-chymase, Met-ase (methionine cleaving), Ser-ase (serine cleaving) and Asp-ase (aspartic acid cleaving). One compound, 2-(Z-NH(CH2)2CONH)C6SO2F, was a potent inhibitor of Met-ase activity (k(obsd)/[I] = 162 M-1 s-1), ly-chymase activity (k(obsd)/[I] = 147 M-1 s-1), and granule-mediated as well as perforin-mediated lysis. PMSF was a poor inhibitor of granule proteases (k(obsd)/[I]'s less than 7 M-1 s-1 for four activities and no inhibition of Ser-ase); the lack of reactivity is consistent with the failure of PMSF to block granule lytic activity. We also prepared enriched perforin by anion exchange chromatography and showed that a ly-chymase and a Met-ase associated with perforin. By inhibiting these proteases we also inhibited lytic activity.

Animals↗

Plasma membrane-associated proteins with the ability to partially inhibit perforin-mediated lysis.

Cytolytic lymphocytes have previously been reported to be resistant to the lytic effects of perforin. In this work, plasma membrane proteins from a CTL cell line were fractionated by HPLC, and the eluted fractions were collected based on their ability to inhibit perforin-mediated hemolysis. Three proteins with inhibitory activity were thus purified, the serine esterase MCSP-3/granzyme F and the histones H2B and H3. A commercial source of H2B was able to potently inhibit perforin-mediated lysis, and it was confirmed by FACS analysis that H2B is in fact present on the surface of cytolytic cells. However, H2B was also found on the surface of perforin-susceptible tumor cell lines, indicating that the histones may partially inhibit perforin-mediated lysis in vitro, but that they do not represent the factor conferring specific resistance on cytolytic lymphocytes. The origin of the surface histones and the possible role of the surface MCSP-3/granzyme F are discussed.

Animals↗

Perforin gene expression in stimulated human peripheral blood T cells studied by in situ hybridization and northern blotting analysis.

In situ hybridization was used here to monitor the mRNA level of the pore-forming protein perforin in mitogen-stimulated primary peripheral blood human T cells. In situ hybridization was performed using sense and antisense ribonucleotide probes specific for this granule mediator. After IL-2 treatment, an increase in perforin mRNA could be detected by 4 h; they peaked at 12 h, and decreased after 24 h. The perforin mRNA was also induced in T cells treated with a combination of phorbol ester PMA plus lectin or OKT3 mAb. This latter induction followed slower kinetics, peaking at 48 h. For all three mitogens used, even at peak induction times less than 10% of T cells were labeled with perforin probe. Similar patterns of mRNA expression were observed for both unprimed T cells and lectin-primed T blasts. The induction response of mRNA due to IL-2 stimulation is probably mediated by the IL-2 receptor p75 chain since its mRNA was upregulated by IL-2 with a kinetics comparable to that associated with an increase of perforin mRNA. The p55 IL-2 receptor chain increased much more slowly than p75.

Blotting, Northern↗

Binding of perforin to membranes is sensitive to lipid spacing and not headgroup.

When triggered, cytolytic effector cells (cytolytic T-lymphocytes (CTL) and large granular lymphocytes (LGL)) release effector molecules from cytoplasmic granules, including the lytic protein perforin. This protein binds and incorporates into the plasma membrane of target cells, where it aggregates to form pores which cause target cell lysis and death. Phosphorylcholine, the headgroup of the ubiquitous phospholipids phosphatidylcholine (PC) and sphingomyelin, has been proposed as the specific receptor for perforin. We report here that any headgroup specificity is outweighed by phospholipid spacing in determining binding of perforin to liposomes. We also find that the spacing of outer leaflet lipids in a natural bilayer, the plasma membrane of the erythrocyte, influences susceptibility of the cell to perforin-mediated lysis. Finally, we demonstrate that the plasma membrane lipids in CTL are more closely spaced than in target cells, suggesting that lipid spacing contributes to the relative resistance of CTL to perforin-mediated lysis.

Animals↗

Cytotoxic and proliferative allospecific T-cell clones contain perforin and mediate anti-CD3-induced cytotoxicity.

Some in vitro-generated allospecific T-cell clones can kill target cells bearing specific antigen, whereas others can only proliferate in response to that antigen. The mechanism of target lysis by clones that exhibit antigen-specific cytotoxicity is thought to involve the exocytosis of lytic granules, which contain the pore-forming protein perforin. Here, CD4+, CD8+, and CD4-8- T-cell clones, positive for CD3 and the alpha/beta T-cell receptor, were tested for their ability to lyse the mouse-anti-human CD3 hybridoma OKT3; this hybridoma has been shown to trigger the cytolytic mechanism in cytotoxic T cells regardless of their clonal specificity. We found that all in vitro-generated allospecific T-cell clones can efficiently lyse the OKT3 targets whether or not they can kill alloantigen-bearing lymphoblastoid B-cell line targets. Furthermore, all tested clones contained perforin. The OKT3 hybridoma was not lysed by perforin-negative, CD3+ leukemic T-cell lines or by CD3- NK clones. Thus, the presence of perforin in T-cell clones correlated with their ability to lyse OKT3 targets, but not with their ability to lyse alloantigen-bearing targets. These results demonstrate that T-cell clones that are nonlytic when activated by specific antigen nevertheless contain a complete lytic mechanism and also support the proposed central role in perforin in that mechanism.

Animals↗

A perforin-like protein from a marine mollusk.

Abalone (gastropod mollusks) express a protein, abMpeg1, which is a homolog of two mammalian proteins that share homology with mammalian perforin, a cytolytic and immune-regulatory protein of lymphocytes. One of the mammalian proteins, Mpeg1, is expressed in mature macrophage and prion-infected mouse brains, while the other, Epcs50, is expressed in ectoplacental cone cells of the invading placenta. Although the functions of these three proteins remain unknown, their structural similarity to mammalian perforin suggests that they may be involved in cell killing, the inflammatory response or tissue invasion. Consistent with these proposed functions, the Mpeg1 gene family shows the signature of positive Darwinian selection (adaptive evolution). The perforin-homology domain of abMpeg1 contains the cytolytic "helix-turn-helix" domain of perforin, supporting the idea that abMpeg1 is a cytolytic protein of the abalone innate immune system. The alpha-helices of abMpeg1 are amphipathic as are those of perforin. The conservation among abMpeg1, mammalian Mpeg1, and Epcs50 shows that Mpeg1 proteins represent a novel, ancient protein family of probable immunological function.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Association of a novel single nucleotide polymorphism in the human perforin gene with the outcome of HTLV-I infection in patients from northeast Iran (Mash-had).

Human T lymphotropic virus I (HTLV-I)-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) recognize the products of the HTLV-I Tax, in the context of HLA-A2 and kill their target through a perforin-dependent mechanism. The efficiency of the CTL response may lead HTLV-I-infected individuals to remain carriers or to the development of HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). Perforin is a cytolytic molecule that contributes to CTL-mediated killing of virus-infected cells. Thus polymorphism in the perforin gene may determine the efficiency of the CTL response in HTLV-I-infected individuals. In this study, we performed single-stranded conformational polymorphism (SSCP) and DNA sequencing to analyze the promoter, 5' UTR and first intron of the perforin gene to identify novel polymorphisms. We detected a novel polymorphism in the first intron at position +418*C/T, relative to the transcription start site. Genotyping of patients with HAM/TSP, HTLV-I carriers, and healthy controls revealed that the frequency of the C allele was statistically significantly increased in HAM/TSP patients compared with healthy controls group (p = 0.005). The frequency of the C allele was higher, but not significantly so, in the HAM/TSP group compared with HTLV-I carriers (p = 0.09), whereas there was no difference between HTLV-I carriers and healthy controls. Our results suggest that the perforin +418*C/T polymorphism is associated with the outcome of HTLV-I infection.

DNA Fingerprinting↗

Noninvasive diagnosis of cellular and antibody-mediated rejection by perforin and granzyme B in renal allografts.

A major milestone in transplantation would be the use of biomarkers to monitor rejection. We examined the association between perforin and granzyme-B gene expression detected in the peripheral blood of renal allograft recipients with cellular and antibody-mediated rejection. Furthermore, we judged the appropriateness of assigning negative rejection statuses to persons without a biopsy whose grafts were functioning well clinically. Of the 46 patients who completed the study, recipients with cellular rejection had higher perforin and granzyme-B levels compared with nonrejectors (p = 0.006). Interestingly, recipients with antibody-mediated rejection also had higher perforin and granzyme-B levels compared with nonrejectors (p = 0.04). Patients with high levels of granzyme B had a probability of rejecting that was 26.7 times greater than those patients with low levels of granzyme B. Perforin and granzyme B had sensitivities of 50% and specificities of 95% in predicting rejection (cutoff value = 140). Assigning negative rejection statuses to recipients without a biopsy whose grafts were functioning well did not have a major effect on the direction or significance of covariate values. This study suggests that perforin and granzyme-B gene expressions in peripheral blood are accurate in detecting both cellular and antibody-mediated rejection.

Adult↗

Perforin mediated apoptosis of cerebral microvascular endothelial cells during experimental cerebral malaria.

Cerebral malaria is a serious complication of Plasmodium falciparum infection. We have investigated the role of perforin in the pathogenesis of cerebral malaria in a murine model (Plasmodium berghei ANKA (PbA) infection). C57BL/6 mice demonstrated the typical neuropathological symptoms of experimental cerebral malaria infection from day 5p.i. and became moribund on day 6p.i. This pathology was not seen in PbA-infected, perforin-deficient (pfp-/-) mice. From days 5-6p.i. onwards there was a significant increase in mRNA for granzyme B and CD8, but not CD4, in brain tissue from PbA-infected C57BL/6 and pfp-/- mouse brains. Perforin mRNA was strongly increased in the brains of PbA-infected C57BL/6 mice on day 6p.i. Immunohistochemistry revealed increased perforin staining and elevated numbers of CD8(+) cells within the cerebral microvessels in PbA-infected C57BL/6 at days 5 and 6p.i. compared with uninfected animals. At day 6p.i., there were TUNEL-positive cells and activated caspase-3 positive cells of endothelial morphology in the CNS of PbA-infected C57BL/6 mice. The TUNEL-positive cells were greatly reduced in pfp-/- mice. These results suggest that CD8(+)T lymphocytes induce apoptosis of endothelial cells via a perforin-dependent process, contributing to the fatal pathogenic process in murine cerebral malaria.

Animals↗

Early pregnancy decidual lymphocytes beside perforin use Fas ligand (FasL) mediated cytotoxicity.

Decidual natural killer (NK) cells are the predominant lymphocytes at the maternal-fetal interface. They are involved in defense against virally infected, parasitized and transformed cells and may contribute to the control of trophoblast invasion. The presence of perforin and other possible cytolytic mediators suggests these functions. Cytolytic mechanisms of unstimulated and Th1 cytokine stimulated decidual lymphocytes (DL), as well as purified decidual CD56(+) cells, were analyzed against NK sensitive and resistant targets. DL were isolated from decidual mononuclear cells (DMC) cultured in the medium only or in the presence of Th1 cytokines: IL-2, IL-12, IL-15, IL-18 and their combinations (IL-12/IL-18 or IL-15/IL-18). Fas ligand (FasL), perforin and granzyme B mRNAs expression and cytotoxicity were analyzed by flow cytometry and/or RT-PCR. DL (containing 72.19+/-7.53% of CD56(+) cells), obtained from 18h-cultured DMC in the medium only, expressed perforin, FasL and granzyme B mRNAs and lysed the NK-sensitive K-562 cell line, and also the NK-resistant P815 and P815-Fas transfected cell lines. Concanamycin A, a blocker of granule exocytosis, decreased significantly K-562 lysis, but not P815 lysis. However, the addition of anti-FasL antibody diminished significantly P815 lysis as well. IL-2 and IL-15, known inducers of perforin and FasL mRNAs and protein expression, could not additionally increase P 815 cell lysis by DL cultured within DMC. These results suggest that DL cultured in DMC for 18h, have the characteristics of lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells and are able to use efficiently both the perforin and the FasL cytolytic pathways.

Adult↗