skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Cytotoxic T lymphocyte-mediated cytolysis: an example of programmed cell death in the immune system

Abstract

Target cells are programmed to die following interaction with cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). Within minutes of exposure to CTL the target cell's nuclear DNA is fragmented. Target cell lysis, as measured by /sup 51/Cr release, occurs about 60 minutes after induction of DNA fragmentation. DNA fragmentation results from the action of an endonuclease which cleaves DNA in the linker region between nucleosomes. The origin of this nuclease, whether transferred to the target by the CTL or endogenous to the target cell, has not been resolved. DNA fragmentation occurs only when appropriately sensitized CTL are used and is not merely the result of cell death because killing of target cells by extreme deviation from homeostasis, by interruption of energy production, or by lysis with antibody and complement does not induce DNA cleavage. When Triton X-100 is added to target cells which have interacted with CTL, the DNA fragments do not remain in association with the nucleus. This observation suggests that breakdown of overall nuclear structure is induced concomitantly with DNA fragmentation. Morphologically, disruption of nuclear structure and DNA fragmentation are observed as widespread chromatin condensation (apoptosis). Apoptosis is observed in metabolically active target cells and is not a consequence of cellmore » death. A cell whose DNA is extensively fragmented is condemmed to die. Induction of oligonucleosome-sized DNA is also an early event in glucocorticoid-induced thymocyte death and death of T cells upon removal of growth factor. Several similarities exist between these systems and CTL-mediated cytolysis suggesting a final common biochemical pathway for all three types of cell death.« less

Authors:
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Colorado Univ., Denver (USA). Health Sciences Center
OSTI Identifier:
6942404
Resource Type:
Thesis/Dissertation
Resource Relation:
Other Information: Thesis (Ph. D.)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES; DNA; MOLECULAR STRUCTURE; LYMPHOCYTES; CELL KILLING; CHROMIUM 51; DNA-ASE; IMMUNITY; LABELLED COMPOUNDS; RADIO-RELEASE ANALYSIS; TRACER TECHNIQUES; ANIMAL CELLS; BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES; BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS; BLOOD; BLOOD CELLS; BODY FLUIDS; CHEMICAL ANALYSIS; CHROMIUM ISOTOPES; CONNECTIVE TISSUE CELLS; ELECTRON CAPTURE RADIOISOTOPES; ENZYMES; ESTERASES; EVEN-ODD NUCLEI; HYDROLASES; INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI; ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS; ISOTOPES; LEUKOCYTES; MATERIALS; NUCLEI; NUCLEIC ACIDS; ORGANIC COMPOUNDS; PHOSPHODIESTERASES; QUANTITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS; RADIOISOTOPES; SOMATIC CELLS; 550301* - Cytology- Tracer Techniques

Citation Formats

Duke, R C. Cytotoxic T lymphocyte-mediated cytolysis: an example of programmed cell death in the immune system. United States: N. p., 1985. Web.
Duke, R C. Cytotoxic T lymphocyte-mediated cytolysis: an example of programmed cell death in the immune system. United States.
Duke, R C. 1985. "Cytotoxic T lymphocyte-mediated cytolysis: an example of programmed cell death in the immune system". United States.
@article{osti_6942404,
title = {Cytotoxic T lymphocyte-mediated cytolysis: an example of programmed cell death in the immune system},
author = {Duke, R C},
abstractNote = {Target cells are programmed to die following interaction with cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). Within minutes of exposure to CTL the target cell's nuclear DNA is fragmented. Target cell lysis, as measured by /sup 51/Cr release, occurs about 60 minutes after induction of DNA fragmentation. DNA fragmentation results from the action of an endonuclease which cleaves DNA in the linker region between nucleosomes. The origin of this nuclease, whether transferred to the target by the CTL or endogenous to the target cell, has not been resolved. DNA fragmentation occurs only when appropriately sensitized CTL are used and is not merely the result of cell death because killing of target cells by extreme deviation from homeostasis, by interruption of energy production, or by lysis with antibody and complement does not induce DNA cleavage. When Triton X-100 is added to target cells which have interacted with CTL, the DNA fragments do not remain in association with the nucleus. This observation suggests that breakdown of overall nuclear structure is induced concomitantly with DNA fragmentation. Morphologically, disruption of nuclear structure and DNA fragmentation are observed as widespread chromatin condensation (apoptosis). Apoptosis is observed in metabolically active target cells and is not a consequence of cell death. A cell whose DNA is extensively fragmented is condemmed to die. Induction of oligonucleosome-sized DNA is also an early event in glucocorticoid-induced thymocyte death and death of T cells upon removal of growth factor. Several similarities exist between these systems and CTL-mediated cytolysis suggesting a final common biochemical pathway for all three types of cell death.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6942404}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1985},
month = {Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1985}
}

Thesis/Dissertation:
Other availability
Please see Document Availability for additional information on obtaining the full-text document. Library patrons may search WorldCat to identify libraries that hold this thesis or dissertation.

Save / Share: