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Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions β€” written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.

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Degranulation

Introduction

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The degranulation process in a Mast cell. 1 = antigen; 2 = IgE; 3 = FcΞ΅RI; 4 = preformed mediators (histamine, proteases, chemokines, heparin); 5 = granules; 6 – Mast cell; 7 – newly formed mediators (prostaglandins, leukotrienes, thromboxanes, platelet-activating factor)
Overview

Overview

Degranulation is a cellular process that releases antimicrobial cytotoxic molecules from secretory vesicles called granules found inside some cells. It is used by several different cells involved in the immune system, including granulocytes (neutrophils, basophils and eosinophils) and Mast cells, and certain lymphocytes such as natural killer (NK) cells and cytotoxic T cells, whose main purpose is to destroy invading microorganisms.

Cytotoxic T cells and NK cells release molecules like perforin and granzymes by a process of directed exocytosis to kill infected target cells.[1]

Four kinds of granules exist in neutrophils that display differences in content and regulation. Secretory vesicles are the most likely to release their contents by degranulation, followed by gelatinase granules, specific granules, and azurophil granules.[2] [3]

Antigens interact with IgE molecules already bound to high affinity Fc receptors on the surface of mast cells to induce degranulation. The mast cell releases a mixture of compounds, including histamine, proteoglycans and serine proteases, from its cytoplasmic granules.[4]

In a similar mechanism, activated eosinophils release preformed mediators such as major basic protein, and enzymes such as peroxidase, following interaction between their Fc receptors and IgE molecules that are bound to large parasites like helminths.[5][6]

References

References

  1. ↑ Veugelers K, Motyka B, Frantz C, Shostak I, Sawchuk T, Bleackley R (2004). “The granzyme B-serglycin complex from cytotoxic granules requires dynamin for endocytosis”. Blood. 103 (10): 3845–53. PMIDΒ 14739229.
  2. ↑ Faurschou M, Borregaard N (2003). “Neutrophil granules and secretory vesicles in inflammation”. Microbes Infect. 5 (14): 1317–27. PMIDΒ 14613775.
  3. ↑ Lominadze G, Powell D, Luerman G, Link A, Ward R, McLeish K (2005). “Proteomic analysis of human neutrophil granules”. Mol Cell Proteomics. 4 (10): 1503–21. PMIDΒ 15985654.
  4. ↑ Yamasaki S, Saito T. “Regulation of mast cell activation through FcepsilonRI”. Chem Immunol Allergy. 87: 22–31. PMID 16107760.
  5. ↑ David J, Butterworth A, Vadas M (1980). “Mechanism of the interaction mediating killing of Schistosoma mansoni by human eosinophils”. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 29 (5): 842–8. PMID 7435788.
  6. ↑ Capron M, Soussi Gounni A, Morita M, Truong M, Prin L, Kinet J, Capron A (1995). “Eosinophils: from low- to high-affinity immunoglobulin E receptors”. Allergy. 50 (25 Suppl): 20–3. PMID 7677229.

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