Blood 2013 Feb 21;121(8):1345-56

Comparison of primary human cytotoxic T-cell and natural killer cell responses reveal similar molecular requirements for lytic granule exocytosis but differences in cytokine production.

Chiang SC, Theorell J, Entesarian M, Meeths M, Mastafa M, Al-Herz W, Frisk P, Gilmour KC, Ifversen M, Langenskiöld C, Machaczka M, Naqvi A, Payne J, Perez-Martinez A, Sabel M, Unal E, Unal S, Winiarski J, Nordenskjöld M, Ljunggren HG, Henter JI, Bryceson YT.
Centre for Infectious Medicine, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden;

Abstract

Key Points Compared with cytotoxic T cells, NK cells share mechanisms for lytic granule release but more stringently control cytokine production. Analysis of CD57(bright) cytotoxic T-cell function may prove useful in the diagnosis of primary immunodeficiencies.