Imaging of lytic granule exocytosis in CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes reveals a modified form of full fusion

Here we imaged the exocytosis of lytic granules from human CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes using rapid total internal reflection microscopy, Lamp-1 tagged with mGFP to follow the fate of the lytic granule membrane, and granzyme A, granzyme B or serglycin tagged with mRFP to follow the fate of lytic granule cargo. Lytic granules were released by full fusion with the plasma membrane, such that the entire granule content for all three cargos visualized was released on a subsecond time scale. The behavior of GFP-Lamp-1 was, however, more complex. While it entered the plasma membrane in all cases, the extent to which it then diffused away from the site of exocytosis varied from nearly complete to highly restricted. Finally, the diffusion properties upon release of the three cargos examined put an upper limit on the size of the macromolecular complex of granzyme and serglycin that is presented to the target cell.

► We imaged lytic granule exocytosis in cytotoxic T cells by rapid TIRF microscopy.
► Cytotoxic T cells degranulate using a modified form of full fusion.
► Three different lytic granule cargos exhibit very rapid diffusion following release.
► A lytic granule membrane protein usually exhibits restricted diffusion upon release.
► Lytic granule contents are not released in particulate form.