Human antimicrobial cytotoxic T lymphocytes, defined by NK receptors and antimicrobial proteins, kill intracellular bacteria

Human cytotoxic T cell subsets were sorted based on cytotoxic molecule expression and RNA sequencing was performed on these subsets Human T cells from two donors were sorted by Flow based on expresssion of Granzyme B, Perforin and Granulysin in to subsets of cells experssing non of these markers, expressing ony granzyme B (monocytotoxic - MCTL) expressing granzyme B and perforin (dicytotoxic -DCTL), expressing all three (Tri-cytotoxic, TCTL - also called Polycytotoxic PCTL). RNA sequencing was performed on these sorted subsets and gene expression was compared to generate specific signatures of these subsets allowing for surface marker identification that permitted isolation for functional study.