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

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. An antigen is a substance that stimulates an immune response, especially the production of antibodies. ... IGE (Internet Gaming Entertainment) is a MMORPG services company. ... // Fc-receptor(s) Introduction Fc-receptor(s) are structures on the surface of cells and can contribute to the protective functions of the immune system. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Proteases (proteinases, peptidases, or proteolytic enzymes) are enzymes that break peptide bonds between amino acids of proteins. ... Chemokines are a family of pro-inflammatory activation-inducible cytokines, or small protein signals secreted by cells. ... Heparin is a highly sulfated glycosaminoglycan widely used as an injectable anticoagulant. ... Chemical structure of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1). ... Leukotrienes are autocrine and paracrine eicosanoid lipid mediators derived from arachidonic acid by 5-lipoxygenase. ... Thromboxane is a member of the family of lipids known as eicosanoids. ... A platelet-activating factor, also known as a PAF or paf-acether is a potent phospholipid activator and mediator of many leucocyte functions, including platelet aggregation, inflammation, and anaphylaxis. ... An antimicrobial is a substance that kills or slows the growth of microbes like bacteria (antibacterial activity), fungi (antifungal activity), viruses (antiviral activity), or parasites (antiparasitic activity). ... Cytotoxicity is the quality of being poisonous to cells. ... Secretion is the process of segregating, elaborating, and releasing chemicals from a cell, or a secreted chemical substance or amount of substance. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... A granule is a small grain. ... A scanning electron microscope image of a single neutrophil (yellow), engulfing anthrax bacteria (orange). ... Granulocytes are a category of white blood cells, characterised by the fact that all types have differently staining granules in their cytoplasm on light microscopy. ... Neutrophil granulocytes (commonly referred to as neutrophils) are a class of white blood cells and are part of the immune system. ... Categories: Wikipedia cleanup | Biology stubs | Blood and immune system cells ... Eosinophils are white blood cells that are responsible for combating infection by parasites in the body. ... Mast cells A mast cell (or mastocyte) is a resident cell of areolar connective tissue (loose connective tissue) that contains many granules rich in histamine and heparin. ... A scanning electron microscope (SEM) image of a single human lymphocyte. ... Natural NK cells are cytotoxic; small granules in their cytoplasm contain special proteins such as perforin and proteases known as granzymes. ... A cytotoxic T cell (also known as TC, CTL or killer T cell) belongs to a sub-group of T lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell) which are capable of inducing the death of infected somatic or tumor cells; they kill cells that are infected with viruses (or other...

Cytotoxic T cells and NK cells release molecules like perforin and granzymes by a process of directed exocytosis to kill infected target cells.^[1] Perforin is a cytolytic protein found in the granules of CD8 T-cells and NK cells. ... Granzymes are exogenous serine proteases that are released by cytoplasmic granules within cytotoxic T cells and natural killer cells. ... This page is currently under construction. ...

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]} In Biology and Chemistry, Gelatinase is an proteolic enzyme that allows a living organism to hydrolyse gelatin into its sub-compounds (polypeptides, peptides, and aminoacids) that can cross the cell membrane and be used by the organism. ... Azurophil is referred to the readily staining with an azure dye. ...

Allergen bound IgE molecules interact with 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] An allergen is any substance (antigen), most often eaten or inhaled, that is recognized by the immune system and causes an allergic reaction. ... IGE (Internet Gaming Entertainment) is a MMORPG services company. ... // Fc-receptor(s) Introduction Fc-receptor(s) are structures on the surface of cells and can contribute to the protective functions of the immune system. ... Mast cells A mast cell (or mastocyte) is a resident cell of areolar connective tissue (loose connective tissue) that contains many granules rich in histamine and heparin. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Proteoglycans represent a special class of glycoprotein that are heavily glycosylated. ... Crystal structure of Trypsin, a typical serine protease. ...

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] A 117-residue protein that predominates in eosinophil granules. ... Ribbon diagram of the enzyme TIM, surrounded by the space-filling model of the protein. ... Glutathione Peroxidase 1 A peroxidase (eg. ... A parasite is an organism that spends a significant portion of its life in or on the living tissue of a host organism and which causes harm to the host without immediately killing it. ... A worm is an elongated soft-bodied invertebrate animal. ...

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. PMID 14739229. 
2. ^ Faurschou M, Borregaard N (2003). "Neutrophil granules and secretory vesicles in inflammation". Microbes Infect 5 (14): 1317-27. PMID 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. PMID 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.