Review
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World J Hematol. Nov 6, 2014; 3(4): 128-137
Published online Nov 6, 2014. doi: 10.5315/wjh.v3.i4.128
Granulysin and its clinical significance as a biomarker of immune response and NK cell related neoplasms
Masayuki Nagasawa, Kazuyuki Ogawa, Kinya Nagata, Norio Shimizu
Masayuki Nagasawa, Department of Hematology, Oncology, and Immunology, Tokyo Bay Urayasu/Ichikawa Medical Center, Chiba 279-0001, Japan
Kazuyuki Ogawa, Kinya Nagata, Bio Medical Laboratories Inc., Research and Development Center, Saitama 602-0841, Japan
Norio Shimizu, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Post Graduate School, Department of Virology, Tokyo 113-8519, Japan
Author contributions: Nagasawa M designed the report; Ogawa K and Nagata K performed the protein analysis; Shimizu N established and provided the cell lines; Nagasawa M analyzed the data and wrote the paper.
Supported by The Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research from Ministry of Education, Science and Culture Japan, 24591541 to Nagasawa M
Correspondence to: Masayuki Nagasawa, MD, PhD, Department of Hematology, Oncology, and Immunology, Tokyo Bay Urayasu/Ichikawa Medical Center, 3-4-32, Todaijima, Urayasu-city, Chiba 279-0001, Japan. mnagasawa.ped@tmd.ac.jp
Telephone: +81-47-3513101 Fax: +81-47-3526237
Received: October 8, 2013
Revised: February 18, 2014
Accepted: February 20, 2014
Published online: November 6, 2014
Processing time: 268 Days and 1 Hours
Core Tip

Core tip: Granulysin is a cytotoxic granular protein expressed in cytotoxic T cells, natural killer (NK) cells and γδT cells, and has anti-microbial activity against microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, mycobacteria and parasites, as well as tumoricidal activity against some tumors. It is secreted constitutively and in a trigger-dependent manner. Clinically, serum granulysin is a unique biomarker for immune response, immune capacity and NK cell related neoplasms.