SensiZyme Granzyme B Activity Assay Kit

The Granzyme B Activity Assay Kit provides all the reagents required for a highly sensitive detection of human Granzyme B activity in cell extracts, cell culture media, tissue extracts, body fluids (serum, plasma), and purified enzyme preparations. The kit was tested with the U-937 cell line and human leukocytes, serum, and plasma. A human Granzyme B Standard has been included for inhibitor screening.

Granzymes are exogenous serine proteases that are released from cytoplasmic granules within cytotoxic T cells (CTLs) and natural killer (NK) cells. Granzyme B is required for the rapid apoptotic signal delivered by CTLs and NK cells, an effect mediated by its ability to cleave and activate various procaspases. Granzyme B plays a crucial role in the development of acute graft-versus-host disease. Thus, the inhibition of this enzyme may prove to be an important tool in controlling immune responses. Conversely, the failure of Granzyme B induced apoptosis may contribute to certain pathologies. Such apoptosis is important for the elimination of virus-infected and malignant cells, and resistance to Granzyme B action (conferred by the serpin PI-9 proteinase inhibitor) may aid in the escape of some tumors from immune surveillance. Thus, Granzyme B plays a critical role in protecting organisms against intracellular infections and cellular transformation.