Granzyme A (GZMA)

Cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTL) and natural killer (NK) cells share the remarkable ability to recognize, bind, and lyse specific target cells. They are thought to protect their host by lysing cells bearing on their surface 'nonself' antigens, usually peptides or proteins resulting from infection by intracellular pathogens. The protein described here is a T cell- and natural killer cell-specific serine protease that may function as a common component necessary for lysis of target cells by cytotoxic T lymphocytes and natural killer cells.Held et al. (1990) studied the expression of the gene for granzyme A during the development of spontaneous diabetes mellitus in the mouse, where progressive destruction of the insulin-producing beta cells occurs after infiltration of the pancreas with lymphocytes.