Granzyme M: behind enemy lines

Cell Death Differ. 2014 Mar;21(3):359-68. doi: 10.1038/cdd.2013.189. Epub 2014 Jan 10.

Abstract

The granule-exocytosis pathway is the major mechanism via which cytotoxic lymphocytes eliminate virus-infected and tumor cells. In this pathway, cytotoxic lymphocytes release granules containing the pore-forming protein perforin and a family of serine proteases known as granzymes into the immunological synapse. Pore-formation by perforin facilitates entry of granzymes into the target cell, where they can activate various (death) pathways. Humans express five different granzymes, of which granzymes A and B have been most extensively characterized. However, much less is known about granzyme M (GrM). Recently, structural analysis and advanced proteomics approaches have determined the primary and extended specificity of GrM. GrM functions have expanded over the past few years: not only can GrM efficiently induce cell death in tumor cells, it can also inhibit cytomegalovirus replication in a noncytotoxic manner. Finally, a role for GrM in lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory responses has been proposed. In this review, we recapitulate the current status of GrM expression, substrate specificity, functions, and inhibitors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Death / physiology
  • Granzymes / metabolism*
  • Humans

Substances

  • Granzymes