Ectopically expressed perforin-1 is proapoptotic in tumor cell lines by increasing caspase-3 activity and the nuclear translocation of cytochrome C.

ABSTRACT: Perforin-1 (PRF), a cytotoxic lymphocyte pore-forming protein, plays an important role in the action of cytotoxic T cells and natural killer cells in that it causes the lysis of abnormal body cells and the elimination of virus-infected cells and tumors. Upon degranulation, PRF inserts itself into the target cell's plasma membrane, forming a pore. The subsequent translocation of pro-apoptotic granzymes (including granzyme B, A, M et al.) into the cytoplasm provides the proteases with access to numerous protein substrates that promote apoptosis after cleavage. These proteases are believed to be the main executioners of target cell apoptosis. Although the PRF and granzyme components are both critical to this process and in some way involved in inducing cell death in target cells, the inhibiti

SUBMITTER: Wang LF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3400674 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature