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The CD8 + granzyme B + T‐cell subset in peripheral blood from healthy individuals contains activated and apoptosis‐prone cells
Author(s) -
Peter C. Wever,
Hans J. van der Vliet,
L. H. A. Spaeny,
Angela M. Wolbink,
F. N. J. Van Diepen,
Christopher J. Froelich,
C. Erik Hack,
Ineke J. M. ten Berge
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.297
H-Index - 133
eISSN - 1365-2567
pISSN - 0019-2805
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2567.1998.00448.x
Subject(s) - granzyme b , cd8 , cytotoxic t cell , apoptosis , biology , immune system , immunology , granzyme , t cell , microbiology and biotechnology , in vitro , perforin , genetics
Granzyme B (GrB) has been implicated in induction of apoptosis in target cells. The presence of GrB in peripheral blood CD8 + T cells from healthy individuals was analysed in immunocytochemical and flow cytometric studies. Furthermore, CD8 + GrB − T cells and CD8 + GrB + T cells were compared regarding phenotypical characteristics and susceptibility to both spontaneous and Fas‐mediated apoptosis. GrB was expressed by approximately one‐fifth of CD8 + T cells. Compared with the CD8 + GrB − T‐cell subset, the CD8 + GrB + T‐cell subset contained cells that were relatively more activated and more prone to spontaneous apoptosis. Culturing of cells with immunoglobulin M (IgM) anti‐Fas monoclonal antibody had no additional effect on the number of CD8 + GrB + T cells undergoing apoptosis. We suggest that the presence of CD8 + GrB + T cells in peripheral blood from healthy individuals results from immune surveillance or contact with infectious agents, and that spontaneous apoptosis of these cells might serve as a mechanism for their eventual clearance.