Rapid lytic granule convergence to the MTOC in natural killer cells is dependent on dynein but not cytolytic commitment.

ABSTRACT: Natural killer cells are lymphocytes specialized to participate in host defense through their innate ability to mediate cytotoxicity by secreting the contents of preformed secretory lysosomes (lytic granules) directly onto a target cell. This form of directed secretion requires the formation of an immunological synapse and occurs stepwise with actin reorganization preceding microtubule-organizing center (MTOC) polarization to the synapse. Because MTOC polarization to the synapse is required for polarization of lytic granules, we attempted to define their interrelationship. We found that compared with the time required for MTOC polarization, lytic granules converged to the MTOC rapidly. The MTOC-directed movement of lytic granules was independent of actin and microtubule reorganization, dep

SUBMITTER: Mentlik AN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2893988 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature