Abstract
One of the functions of the immune system is to recognize and destroy abnormal or infected cells to maintain homeostasis. This is accomplished by cytotoxic lymphocytes. Cytotoxicity is a highly organized multifactor process. Here, we reviewed the apoptosis pathways induced by the two main cytotoxic lymphocyte subsets, natural killer (NK) cells and CD8+ T cells. In base to recent experimental evidence, we reviewed NK receptors involved in recognition of target-cell, as well as lytic molecules such as perforin, granzymes-A and -B, and granulysin. In addition, we reviewed the Fas-FasL intercellular linkage mediated pathway, and briefly the cross-linking of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and TNF receptor pathway. We discussed three models of possible molecular interaction between lytic molecules from effector cytotoxic cells and target-cell membrane to induction of apoptosis.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 12 digital issues and online access to articles
$119.00 per year
only $9.92 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Chávez-Galán, L., Arenas-Del Angel, M., Zenteno, E. et al. Cell Death Mechanisms Induced by Cytotoxic Lymphocytes. Cell Mol Immunol 6, 15–25 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/cmi.2009.3
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/cmi.2009.3
Keywords
This article is cited by
-
The role of the natural killer (NK) cell modulation in breast cancer incidence and progress
Molecular Biology Reports (2022)
-
METTL3-mediated m6A RNA methylation promotes the anti-tumour immunity of natural killer cells
Nature Communications (2021)
-
Direct and Indirect endocrine-mediated suppression of human endometrial CD8+T cell cytotoxicity
Scientific Reports (2021)
-
Engineering microrobots for targeted cancer therapies from a medical perspective
Nature Communications (2020)
-
Monoclinic cerium(III) picrate tetraethylene glycol complex: design, synthesis and biological evaluation as anti-amoebic activity against Acanthamoeba sp.
Journal of Materials Science (2020)