Granulysin-dependent killing of intracellular and extracellular Mycobacterium tuberculosis by Vgamma9/Vdelta2 T lymphocytes.

Dieli, F; Troye-Blomberg, M; Ivanyi, J; Fournié, J J; Krensky, A M; Bonneville, M; Peyrat, M A; Caccamo, N et al. · J Infect Dis · 2001

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Contribution of Vgamma9/Vdelta2 T lymphocytes to immune protection against Mycobacterium tuberculosis is still a matter of debate. It was reported earlier that Vgamma9/Vdelta2 T lymphocytes kill macrophages harboring live M. tuberculosis through a granule-dependent mechanism that results in killing of intracellular bacilli. This study found that Vgamma9/Vdelta2 T lymphocytes reduce the viability of both extracellular and intracellular M. tuberculosis. Granulysin and perforin, both detected in Vgamma9/Vdelta2 T lymphocytes, play a major role, which indicates that Vgamma9/Vdelta2 T lymphocytes directly contribute to a protective host response against M. tuberculosis infection.

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