T-cell release of granulysin contributes to host defense in leprosy

MT Ochoa, S Stenger, PA Sieling, S Thoma-Uszynski… - Nature medicine, 2001 - nature.com
MT Ochoa, S Stenger, PA Sieling, S Thoma-Uszynski, S Sabet, S Cho, AM Krensky…
Nature medicine, 2001nature.com
A novel mechanism by which T cells contribute to host defense against microbial pathogens
is release of the antimicrobial protein granulysin. We investigated the role of granulysin in
human infectious disease using leprosy as a model. Granulysin-expressing T cells were
detected in cutaneous leprosy lesions at a six-fold greater frequency in patients with the
localized tuberculoid as compared with the disseminated lepromatous form of the disease.
In contrast, perforin, a cytolytic molecule that colocalizes with granulysin in cytotoxic …
Abstract
A novel mechanism by which T cells contribute to host defense against microbial pathogens is release of the antimicrobial protein granulysin. We investigated the role of granulysin in human infectious disease using leprosy as a model. Granulysin-expressing T cells were detected in cutaneous leprosy lesions at a six-fold greater frequency in patients with the localized tuberculoid as compared with the disseminated lepromatous form of the disease. In contrast, perforin, a cytolytic molecule that colocalizes with granulysin in cytotoxic granules, was expressed at similar levels across the spectrum of disease. Within leprosy lesions, granulysin colocalized in CD4+ T cells and was expressed in CD4+ T-cell lines derived from skin lesions. These CD4+ T-cell lines lysed targets by the granule exocytosis pathway and reduced the viability of mycobacteria in infected targets. Given the broad antimicrobial spectrum of granulysin, these data provide evidence that T-cell release of granulysin contributes to host defense in human infectious disease.
nature.com