Alan M. Krensky, M.D.

Publication Details

• Granulysin blocks replication of varicella-zoster virus and triggers apoptosis of infected cells.

  Hata A, Zerboni L, Sommer M, Kaspar AA, Clayberger C, Krensky AM, Arvin AM. Viral Immunol. 2001; 14 (2): 125-33

  Granulysin, a lytic protein present in cytolytic granules of human natural killer and cytotoxic T cells, entered cells infected with varicella-zoster virus (VZV). Exposure to granulysin accelerated death of infected cells as assessed by apoptosis markers. The functional domain of granulysin that mediated its antiviral effects was amino acid 23-51; this domain also mediates the additional antitumor cell effects of granulysin. Because granulysin is a product of natural killer cells and T lymphocytes, it is possible that its antiviral activity may act as a mediator of innate and adaptive immune mechanisms.

  PubMedID: 11398808