Serglycin, also known as hematopoietic proteoglycan core protein or secretory granule proteoglycan core protein, is a protein that in humans is encoded by the SRGN gene. [5] It is primarily expressed in hematopoietic cells and endothelial cells, [6] and is the only known intracellular proteoglycan. [7]
This gene encodes a protein best known as a hematopoietic cell granule proteoglycan. Proteoglycans stored in the secretory granules of many hematopoietic cells also contain a protease-resistant peptide core, which may be important for neutralizing hydrolytic enzymes. This encoded protein was found to be associated with the macromolecular complex of granzymes and perforin, and serves as a scaffold for the granzyme and perforin in granule-mediated apoptosis. [5] [8]
A cytotoxic T cell (also known as TC, cytotoxic T lymphocyte, CTL, T-killer cell, cytolytic T cell, CD8+ T-cell or killer T cell) is a T lymphocyte (a type of white blood cell) that kills cancer cells, cells that are infected by intracellular pathogens (such as viruses or bacteria), or cells that are damaged in other ways.
Perforin-1 Perforin (PRF), encoded by the PRF1 gene, is a pore-forming toxic protein housed in the secretory granules of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) and natural killer (NK) cells. Together, these cells are known as cytotoxic lymphocytes (CLs).
Granzymes are serine proteases released by cytoplasmic granules within cytotoxic T cells and natural killer (NK) cells. They induce programmed cell death (apoptosis) in the target cell, thus eliminating cells that have become cancerous or are infected with viruses or bacteria. Granzymes also kill bacteria and inhibit viral replication. In NK cells and T cells, granzymes are packaged in cytotoxic granules along with perforin. Granzymes can also be detected in the rough endoplasmic reticulum, golgi complex, and the trans-golgi reticulum. The contents of the cytotoxic granules function to permit entry of the granzymes into the target cell cytosol. The granules are released into an immune synapse formed with a target cell, where perforin mediates the delivery of the granzymes into endosomes in the target cell, and finally into the target cell cytosol. Granzymes are part of the serine esterase family. They are closely related to other immune serine proteases expressed by innate immune cells, such as neutrophil elastase and cathepsin G.
Granzyme B (GrB) is one of the serine protease granzymes most commonly found in the granules of natural killer cells and cytotoxic T cells. It is secreted by these cells along with the pore forming protein perforin to mediate apoptosis in target cells.
Granzyme A is a tryptase and is one of the five granzymes encoded in the human genome. In humans, GzmA is encoded by the GZMA gene in proximity to the GZMK gene on chromosome 5. This enzyme is present in cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) granules.
Platelet factor 4 (PF4) is a small cytokine belonging to the CXC chemokine family that is also known as chemokine ligand 4 (CXCL4). This chemokine is released from alpha-granules of activated platelets during platelet aggregation, and promotes blood coagulation by moderating the effects of heparin-like molecules. Due to these roles, it is predicted to play a role in wound repair and inflammation. It is usually found in a complex with proteoglycan.
Aggrecan (ACAN), also known as cartilage-specific proteoglycan core protein (CSPCP) or chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan 1, is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ACAN gene. This gene is a member of the lectican (chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan) family. The encoded protein is an integral part of the extracellular matrix in cartilagenous tissue and it withstands compression in cartilage.
Annexin A5 is a cellular protein in the annexin group. In flow cytometry, annexin V is commonly used to detect apoptotic cells by its ability to bind to phosphatidylserine, a marker of apoptosis when it is on the outer leaflet of the plasma membrane. The function of the protein is unknown; however, annexin A5 has been proposed to play a role in the inhibition of blood coagulation by competing for phosphatidylserine binding sites with prothrombin and also to inhibit the activity of phospholipase A1. These properties have been found by in vitro experiments.
Degranulation is a cellular process that releases antimicrobial, cytotoxic, or other molecules from secretory vesicles called granules found inside some cells. It is used by several different cells involved in the immune system, including granulocytes. It is also used by certain lymphocytes such as natural killer (NK) cells and cytotoxic T cells, whose main purpose is to destroy invading microorganisms.
Granzyme B is a serine protease that in humans is encoded by the GZMB gene. Granzyme B is expressed by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) and natural killer (NK) cells.
Lysosome-associated membrane protein 2 (LAMP2), also known as CD107b and Mac-3, is a human gene. Its protein, LAMP2, is one of the lysosome-associated membrane glycoproteins.
SCG2, also called secretogranin II (chromogranin C), is a protein which in humans is encoded by the SCG2 gene.
Defensin, alpha 1 also known as human alpha defensin 1, human neutrophil peptide 1 (HNP-1) or neutrophil defensin 1 is a human protein that is encoded by the DEFA1 gene. Human alpha defensin 1 belongs to the alpha defensin family of antimicrobial peptides.
Collagen alpha-2(VI) chain is a protein that in humans is encoded by the COL6A2 gene.
Granulysin (GNLY) is a protein expressed in most mammals which functions as an antimicrobial peptide released by killer lymphocytes in cytotoxic granules. It is a pore-forming peptide, as it can puncture a microbial cell wall, allowing for other death-inducing enzymes to enter the microbe and cause microptosis. GNLY is inhibited by cholesterol, and is most effective in helping to kill cholesterol-deficient microbes.
Basic salivary proline-rich protein 1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the PRB1 gene.
Granzyme H is a protein that in humans is encoded by the GZMH gene.
Granzyme K (GrK) is a protein that is encoded by the GZMK gene on chromosome 5 in humans. Granzymes are a family of serine proteases which have various intracellular and extracellular roles. GrK is found in granules of natural killer (NK) cells and cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), and is traditionally described as being cytotoxic towards targeted foreign, infected, or cancerous cells. NK cells and CTLs can induce apoptosis through the granule secretory pathway, which involves the secretion of granzymes along with perforin at immunological synapses.
Carboxypeptidase A3 (mast cell carboxypeptidase A), also known as CPA3, is an enzyme which in humans is encoded by the CPA3 gene. The "CPA3" gene expression has only been detected in mast cells and mast-cell-like lines, and CPA3 is located in secretory granules. CPA3 is one of 8-9 members of the A/B subfamily that includes the well-studied pancreatic enzymes carboxypeptidase A1 (CPA1), carboxypeptidase A2 (CPA2), and carboxypeptidase B. This subfamily includes 6 carboxypeptidase A-like enzymes, numbered 1-6. The enzyme now called CPA3 was originally named mast cell carboxypeptidase A, and another protein was initially called CPA3. A gene nomenclature committee renamed mast cell carboxypeptidase A as CPA3, and the original CPA3 reported by Huang et al. became CPA4 to reflect the order of their discovery.
Granzyme M is a protein that in humans is encoded by the GZMM gene.