Immune · Research Phase
Granulysin
No lawful US pathway
01 · Overview
Granulysin is an antimicrobial and cytolytic protein produced by human cytotoxic T lymphocytes and natural killer cells, and it is structurally related to saposin-like lipid-binding proteins (PMID 10644038). It exists in two main forms: a 15 kDa precursor and a 9 kDa cleaved form, with the 9 kDa form carrying the broad cytotoxic activity while the 15 kDa form acts more as an immune alarmin that matures and recruits antigen-presenting cells (PMID 31726187).
Research interest covers intracellular infections and cancer immunotherapy.
02 · Research summary & key findings
Granulysin is active against a broad range of microbes, including Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, fungi, and parasites, and notably kills Mycobacterium tuberculosis (PMID 10644038); granulysin and perforin from gamma-delta T cells reduced the viability of both extracellular and intracellular M. tuberculosis (PMID 11574927). Recombinant 9 kDa granulysin slowed growth of human melanoma xenografts in mice and increased NK-cell infiltration into the tumors (PMID 33770663). Work remains preclinical, with no clinical trials or approved formulations identified.
03 · Regulatory status
Granulysin is in the research phase with limited clinical data in humans. Current evidence is primarily derived from preclinical (animal or in vitro) studies.
No lawful pathway today
Granulysin is not FDA-approved and does not currently have a lawful prescription or compounding pathway in the United States, so we do not sell it and will not book a consultation for it. That can change: in 2026 FDA began reviewing several peptides for compounding.
See the 1 FDA-approved compound in Immune
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04 · Administration routes
- Intravenous
- Subcutaneous injection
References
- [1]Granulysin: a novel antimicrobial peptide of cytolytic T lymphocytes and natural killer cells Biochem Pharmacol, 2000. PMID 10644038
- [2]Granulysin-dependent killing of intracellular and extracellular Mycobacterium tuberculosis by Vgamma9/Vdelta2 T lymphocytes J Infect Dis, 2001. PMID 11574927
- [3]Granulysin: The attractive side of a natural born killer Immunol Lett, 2020. PMID 31726187
- [4]In vivo potential of recombinant granulysin against human melanoma Cancer Treat Res Commun, 2021. PMID 33770663
Primary literature
- PubMed: "Granulysin"
Peer-reviewed literature indexed by the National Library of Medicine.
- ClinicalTrials.gov: "Granulysin"
Registered interventional and observational studies, including status and phase.
- PubChem: "Granulysin"
Chemical structure, molecular properties, and bioactivity data.
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