"Natural Killer Cells As Natural Born Killers": Directed by the Activated GTPase Dynamin-2
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Authors
Farrar, Benjamin D.
Issue Date
2000
Type
Thesis
Language
en_US
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
Almost an enigma in the immunological world are Natural Killer (NK) cells - a
distinct class of cytotoxic lymphocytes. Their ability to kill tumor and virally-infected
cells without prior sensitization makes them unique when compared to other cytotoxic
lymphocytes. Once activated via the cross-linking of the Fc receptor (FcR) of either the
antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) or natural cytotoxicity (NC) pathway, a
cascade of signals activates various intracellular proteins that eventually lead to NK. cell
activation. Ultimately, the activated NK cells kill various target cells by releasing
protease-filled granules from a polarized area of sphingolipids and receptors at the
interface between the NK. cell and its target. Recently, a new protein GTPase called
dynamin-2 has been hypothesized to be specifically involved in the NK cell activation,
cell-mediated killing and lipid and granule polarization processes. The postulation was
made about dynamin-2 because it has been found to be present at the necks of newly
forming vesicles at the trans-Golgi network. The results from this study suggest that
once activated in the NK cell activation process, dynamin-2 has been found to influence
further NK cell activation, cell-mediated killing, and both lipid and granule polarization.
Specifically, over-expression of dynamin-2 was shown to positively enhance all of these
processes, further supporting its role in NK cell functions. These results further
underscore the pivotal role of the GTPase dynamin-2 in mediating NK cell functions.
Description
vi, 38 p.
Citation
Publisher
Kalamazoo College
License
U.S. copyright laws protect this material. Commercial use or distribution of this material is not permitted without prior written permission of the copyright holder.