乙酰胆碱对自然杀伤细胞活性的影响

目的:观察乙酰胆碱(ACh)对自然杀伤(NK)细胞活性的影响,并初步探讨其作用的受体机制.方法:根据不同的实验目的,选择ACh、胆碱能受体激动剂和拮抗剂分别作用于NK细胞,以乳酸脱氢酶(lactate dehydrogenase,LDH)自然释放法检测不同实验条件下NK细胞杀伤肿瘤靶细胞(Yac)的活性.结果:ACh、M受体激动剂毛果芸香碱和N受体激动剂烟碱在10-10～10-6mol/L浓度范围内都能显著抑制NK细胞杀伤肿瘤细胞的活性.M受体拮抗剂阿托品(10-8和10-7mol/L)能完全阻断同浓度ACh抑制NK细胞活性的作用;但N受体拮抗剂筒箭毒碱(10-8和10-7mol/L)不能阻断同浓度ACh抑制NK细胞活性的作用.结论:ACh可抑制NK细胞对肿瘤细胞的杀伤作用,此作用主要由淋巴细胞上的M受体和N1受体介导.     

生物肽SP对NK细胞活化性受体NCRs表达的影响

研究SP对NK92-MI细胞杀伤活性以及活化性受体NCRs(NKp46、NKp44和NKp30分子)的表达的影响,揭示SP对NK细胞杀伤功能的调节作用及其内在作用机制.MTT法测定NK92-MI细胞对K562细胞的杀伤活性;Real-Time PCR检测NCRs的mRNA表达;流式细胞术检测NCRs的膜表达.在10-14～10-8 mol/L浓度范围的SP作用24h,对NK92-MI细胞的杀伤活性有明显增强作用;10-14～10-8 mol/L的SP,均可增加NK92-MI细胞活化性受体NKp44、NKp46及NKp30的mRNA表达;该浓度范围的SP均可增加NKp46的膜表达水平,仅较低浓度( 10-14moL/L)的SP对NKp44的膜表达水平有增加作用,各浓度的SP对NKp30的膜表达水平均无明显影响.SP可通过上调活化性受体NCRs的表达水平来调节NK细胞的活性.     

复方黄芪口服液对放射小鼠细胞周期及免疫功能的影响

目的：探讨复方黄芪口服液对放射小鼠细胞周期及免疫功能的影响,方法：应用流式细胞仪（FCM）检测脾脏细胞周期和免疫参数（NK,CD4＋,CD8＋）,结果：该复方中药能使受照小鼠脾细胞S,G2＋M期的比例升高,促进脾细胞增殖,并能提高NK细胞活性和CD4＋百分率及CD4＋／CD8＋比值,结论：复方黄芪口服液对辐射损伤细胞具有定的保护作用。     

生物肽SP对NK细胞NKG2D/NKG2A受体表达的影响

选择NK92-MI细胞为研究体系,研究SP对NK细胞的杀伤活性及功能性受体NKG2D/NKG2A表达的影响,以探讨SP对NK细胞功能的调节作用机制。采用MTT法测定NK92-MI细胞对K562细胞的杀伤活性;采用Real-Time PCR和流式细胞术检测NK92-MI细胞活化性受体NKG2D和抑制性受体NKG2A的基因表达和膜表达。10-14～10-8 mol/L的SP在体外可明显增强NK92-MI细胞的杀伤活性。该浓度范围的SP均可上调NKG2D/NKG2A的mRNA水平;10-14～10-8 mol/L的SP均上调NKG2D/NKG2A的膜表达,较低浓度（10-14 mol/L）的SP仅使NKG2D表达上调,而NKG2A表达无明显变化;SP刺激NKG2D膜表达增加的程度高于NKG2A。生物肽SP调节NK细胞功能性受体NKG2D/NKG2A的表达,可能是SP增强NK细胞杀伤活性的一种原因。     

RIP1介导肿瘤坏死因子α诱导的L929细胞凋亡与程序性坏死

肿瘤坏死因子α(tumor necrosis factor alpha,TNFα)诱导的L929细胞死亡是研究细胞程序性坏死的重要模型,但也有报道称,TNFα处理后的L929细胞发生了凋亡。该研究以所在实验室保存的L929细胞(L929-A)和从商业化细胞库购买的L929细胞(L929-N)为模型,进一步鉴定了TNFα诱导的L929细胞死亡类型与调控机制。结果发现,TNFα处理后的L929-A细胞中出现了凋亡特征,且阻断胱冬肽酶(caspase)信号通路可显著抑制TNFα诱导的L929-A细胞死亡,但却促进TNFα诱导的L929-N细胞死亡。此外,受体相互作用蛋白1(receptor-interacting protein 1,RIP1)在TNFα诱导的两种L929细胞死亡过程中都具有关键性的调控作用,表明TNFα处理后的L929-A细胞发生了RIP1依赖的细胞凋亡,而L929-N细胞发生了程序性坏死(necroptosis)。同时,启动细胞程序性坏死的关键蛋白RIP3(receptor-interacting protein 3)在L929-N细胞中表达水平显著高于L929-A细胞,因此,RIP3的这种差异表达可能是决定两种L929细胞在TNFα处理后发生不同类型细胞程序性死亡的重要原因。     

硼替佐米增强P16蛋白表达诱导骨髓瘤细胞衰老

目的：研究蛋白酶体抑制剂硼替佐米诱导骨髓瘤RPMI8226、MMH929细胞衰老作用,并进一步探讨其作用机制。方法：硼替佐米0.1-100nmol/L处理骨髓瘤RPMI8226、MMH929细胞48、72h,MTT法检测细胞存活率、药物IC50值。选择药物IC50值1/10剂量处理骨髓瘤RPMI8226、MMH929细胞0、24、48H后检测衰老相关β-半乳糖苷酶染色率。流式细胞术检测细胞周期情况及凋亡率。Western-blot检测相关蛋白表达。结果：硼替佐米处理骨髓瘤细胞RPMI8226、MMH929后48小时IC50值：RPMI8226：19.05 nmol/L,MMH929：18.45nmol/L。以硼替佐米2 nmol/L处理骨髓瘤RPMI8226、MMH929细胞0、24、48H后发现β-半乳糖苷酶染色率、细胞G0/G1期比例明显上升与药物作用时间呈正相关,Western-blot检测细胞周期调控蛋白发现P53、PTEN蛋白无变化,P16蛋白与药物作用时间正相关。结论：硼替佐米通过增强P16蛋白表达诱导骨髓瘤细胞RPMI8226、H929衰老。     

小鼠可溶性PD1的克隆、真核表达及生物学活性检测

旨在克隆小鼠PD1胞外区(简称mPD-1)基因,利用真核表达系统表达有活性的分泌型mPD-1蛋白,初步研究其生物学活性。克隆mPD-1基因,将其连入pcDNA3.1(+)/Fc中获得pcDNA3.1(+)-Fc/mPD-1重组表达质粒,转化至大肠杆菌DH5α,进行PCR和双酶切鉴定,并送测序。将阳性质粒转染L929细胞,利用RT-PCR和Western blotting方法鉴定mPD-1/L929稳定表达株。利用Alamar Blue法检测分泌的mPD-l蛋白对淋巴细胞增殖的影响,评价其生物学活性。结果显示,成功构建重组质粒pcDNA3.1(+)-Fc/mPD-1,转染了pcDNA3.1(+)-Fc/mPD-1的L929细胞可将mPD-l蛋白分泌至胞外。A lamar Blue检测结果显示,真核细胞分泌的mPD-1蛋白作用于混合淋巴细胞,与阴性对照相比,可明显促进淋巴细胞的增殖。本试验成功地克隆mPD-1胞外区蛋白,并在L929细胞中得到了分泌型表达。分泌的重组蛋白可有效促进淋巴细胞增殖,为进一步研究其功能和临床应用提供了条件。     

天然杀伤(NK)细胞与靶细胞相互作用的研究

本文对NK细胞与正常的,以及经低温、加热、超声、辐射、单糖、蛋白酶、和/或环己亚胺处理的靶细胞(AV、1C2、YAC-1、R.1.1,R.1.X)的相互作用进行了研究。并且与混合淋巴细胞培养产生的细胞毒作用进行了比较。试验并对来自L 5178 Y的一对变株AV(NK不敏感株)和1C2(NK敏感株)作了FACS分析。结果表明:NK细胞对多种瘤细胞均有杀伤作用,不受H-2限制,NK细胞介导的这一细胞毒作用可能需要一个完整的,有代谢活性的靶细胞结构。蛋白酶和环己亚胺处理能显著降低NK细胞的活性。FACS分析结果表明:1C2能特异地与抗Gg 3cer糖脂的单抗结合,而AV则不能。以上提示:NK细胞有它一定的识别作用。糖蛋白和/或糖脂可能是NK细胞所识别的靶的结构。     

生物肽SP对NK-92MI细胞迁移及趋化因子受体表达的影响

探讨生物肽P物质(substance P,SP)对NK92-MI细胞迁移力和细胞表面趋化因子受体表达的影响,能更好地解释SP调控NK细胞迁移的作用机制,为NK细胞的功能研究及潜在的免疫疗法提供补充依据。Transwell法检测SP对NK92-MI细胞迁移能力的影响及SP对趋化因子CCL21和CXCL12对NK92-MI细胞趋化作用的影响;Real-time PCR检测SP对CCR7和CXCR4 mRNA表达水平的影响;流式细胞术检测SP对CCR7和CXCR4膜表达水平的影响。结果显示:①SP促进NK92-MI细胞的迁移,是在低浓度范围(10~(-12)～10~(-10)mol/L)随SP浓度增加,促进作用逐渐增强,高浓度范围(10~(-8)～10~(-6) mol/L)随SP浓度增加,促进作用又有所减弱,SP浓度在10~(-10) mol/L时,趋化指数达峰值;SP增强趋化因子CCL21和CXCL12对NK92-MI细胞的趋化作用,这种增强作用在10~(-10) mol/L浓度最显著。②SP在10~(-12)～10~(-6) mol/L浓度范围内均能明显促进CCR7 mRNA的表达,且CCR7 mRNA表达水平随着SP浓度增加而增高;SP在10~(-10 )～10~(-6 ) mol/L浓度范围内能明显促进CXCR4 mRNA的表达。③CCR7的膜表达水平随着SP浓度的增加具有逐渐增高的趋势,在10~(-8) mol/L和10~(-6) mol/L浓度组,CCR7的表达有明显增加;而CXCR4的膜表达则随SP浓度的增加,具有先增高后回降的趋势,在10~(-10) mol/L和10~(-8) mol/L浓度组,CXCR4的表达有明显增加。SP能直接促进NK92-MI细胞的迁移,说明SP对NK细胞具有直接趋化作用;SP通过上调趋化因子受体CCR7和CXCR4的表达水平,协同趋化因子,间接发挥对NK-92MI细胞的趋化作用。     

水稻光合日变化及光抑制的叶绿素荧光

研究了光敏核不育水稻(Oryza sativa L.)农垦58S(NK58S)的光合日变化和光抑制.06:00～09:00,NK58S的光抑制不明显,此时的光合功能下调以叶黄素循环为主;10:00～12:00,耗散比能流(DIo/RC)及光反应中心关闭净速率(dV/dto)增加,受体侧电子传递受阻(ψo下降),活性反应中心密度(Do)降低,NK58S光抑制加剧,PSⅡ反应中心发生失活.荧光暗弛豫分析与抑制剂处理结果表明,状态转换、叶黄素循环和PSⅡ反应中心失活均能有效保护NK58S免遭强光损伤.叶黄素循环相对于反应中心失活,前者是NK58S对强光胁迫的快速反应,在光强相对较弱时发挥主要作用,而后者在叶黄素循环达到饱和时对保护剩余活性反应中心起主要作用.     

Antibody-dependent cell lysis by NK cells is preserved after sarcoma-induced inhibition of NK cell cytotoxicity

Osteosarcoma and Ewing’s sarcoma tumor cells are susceptible to IL15-induced or antibody-mediated cytolytic activity of NK cells in short-term cytotoxicity assays. When encountering the tumor environment in vivo, NK cells may be in contact with tumor cells for a prolonged time period. We explored whether a prolonged interaction with sarcoma cells can modulate the activation and cytotoxic activity of NK cells. The 40 h coculture of NK cells with sarcoma cells reversibly interfered with the IL15-induced expression of NKG2D, DNAM-1 and NKp30 and inhibited the cytolytic activity of NK cells. The inhibitory effects on receptor expression required physical contact between NK cells and sarcoma cells and were independent of TGF-β. Five days pre-incubation of NK cells with IL15 prevented the down-regulation of NKG2D and cytolytic activity in subsequent cocultures with sarcoma cells. NK cell FcγRIIIa/CD16 receptor expression and antibody-mediated cytotoxicity were not affected after the coculture. Inhibition of NK cell cytotoxicity was directly linked to the down-regulation of the respective NK cell-activating receptors. Our data demonstrate that the inhibitory effects of sarcoma cells on the cytolytic activity of NK cells do not affect the antibody-dependent cytotoxicity and can be prevented by pre-activation of NK cells with IL15. Thus, the combination of cytokine-activated NK cells and monoclonal antibody therapy may be required to improve tumor targeting and NK cell functionality in the tumor environment.     

Induction of NK cell activity against fresh human leukemia in culture with interleukin 2

Natural killer (NK) cells have been implicated in defense against malignancies, especially leukemia. Because patients with leukemia and preleukemic disorders manifest low NK activity, it is possible that NK cell impairment may contribute to leukemogenesis. In view of this possibility, it was important to characterize the NK cell defect of leukemic patients and to design new approaches for its correction. Analysis of the mechanism of NK cell defect demonstrated that NK cells of leukemic patients were impaired in their tumor-binding and lytic activity and did not display ability to recycle or to produce cytotoxic factor. However, deficient NK activity could be corrected by culture of peripheral blood effector cells with IL 2. IL 2-activated NK cells manifested restoration of all measured parameters of the cytotoxic mechanism, as exemplified by normalized tumor-binding and lytic activity, as well as the rate of lysis and ability to recycle. Importantly, such in vitro stimulated cytotoxic cells displayed reactivity against fresh leukemic cells of autologous as well as allogeneic origin. Another interesting observation from these studies was that the NK activity was also induced in the leukemic bone marrow, a tissue with a very low frequency of cytotoxic NK cells. It is important to note that cultured NK cells did not represent a stationary cell population, but proliferated in vitro quite actively (doubling time 3 to 6 days) for at least 5 wk. Characterization of the in vitro generated cytotoxic cells indicated that these cells displayed large granular lymphocyte morphology and CD16 and Leu-19 cell surface phenotype. Our data demonstrate that the NK cell defect of leukemic patients is not a permanent phenomenon, but can be reversed in culture with IL 2, and that fully cytotoxic NK cells can be maintained and expanded in vitro. Thus, it is reasonable to suggest that adoptive transfer of autologous NK cells to the patients may represent a promising new therapy for treatment of leukemia.     

Natural killer activity in cloned cytotoxic T lymphocytes: regulation by interleukin 2, interferon, and specific antigen

It has previously been shown that monoclonal antigen-specific mouse CTL lines can be induced to express cytolytic activity with the same specificity as that of splenic natural killer (NK) cells following culture in high concentrations of concanavalin A-induced spleen cell supernatants. In the present experiments, we made use of this in vitro system to explore the regulation of NK activity at the clonal level. Interferon-alpha and interferon-beta and interleukin 2 (IL 2) were potent inducers of NK activity in CTL, demonstrating that these substances can activate NK functions directly without the participation of other cell types. By comparison, IFN-gamma was a poor activator of NK activity in CTL (and also in fresh spleen cells). Three major differences between induction of NK activity by IFN-alpha,beta and IL 2 were noted: IFN induced NK activity selectively without affecting specific cytolysis, whereas IL 2 also enhanced specific killing; IFN acted much more rapidly than IL 2; and IFN did not induce the cells to enter the cell cycle nor were there any obvious morphologic changes. Specific antigen was also a strong inducer of NK activity in CTL, but studies with antisera against the various classes of IFN revealed that this effect was mediated, at least in part, via the release of IFN-beta. By contrast, the same antisera had no effect on NK induction by crude TCGF or by highly purified IL 2, indicating that the regulation of NK activity by IL 2 occurs at the clonal level in an IFN-independent manner. Although, IL 2, IFN, and Ag could apparently act alone to induce NK activity, much greater (synergistic) induction was obtained by various combinations of these regulators, suggesting that the delivery of two (or more) signals to the responder cell was required for full expression of the NK state. As with fresh splenic NK cells, the induced NK state in cloned CTL was intrinsically labile as revealed by its rapid decay in the absence of inducers, but it could nonetheless be maintained indefinitely at very high levels in the continued presence of inducers. This clonal system thus displays a responsiveness to regulatory signals exactly analogous to that of splenic NK cells and provides a unique and exciting opportunity to evaluate the biochemistry of the regulation of NK activity.     

Renal carcinoma cell lines inhibit natural killer activity via the CD94 receptor molecule

MHC class I molecules protect normal and transformed cells from lysis by natural killer (NK) cells through recognition of receptors expressed on leucocytes. Defects in NK cell activity and lymphokine activated killer (LAK) cell generation have been previously demonstrated in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC). However, to date, the importance of NK receptor/MHC class I interactions for immune evasion by RCC cells has not been described. In this study, human RCC cell lines (HTB46, HTB47, ACHN, CRL 1933 and HTB44) were found to be susceptible to lysis by both NK cells and interleukin-15 (IL-15)-derived LAK cells from normal donors in vitro. However, when NK cells were co-cultured with RCC cells their expression of the CD94 NK receptor molecule was significantly increased and their cytolytic activity against RCC targets was reduced. The cytolytic activity of NK cells was restored by the addition of IL-15, which further augmented the expression of CD94 on CD56+ NK cells. Disruption of NK receptor-MHC class I interactions by the addition of blocking antibodies to CD94 had no effect on the lysis of K562 or HTB47 targets by NK cells. However, the sensitivity of HTB46 cells to NK-mediated lysis was increased by blocking the CD94 receptor molecule, but only when the NK cells had not been previously co-cultured with RCC cells. This was independent of the presence of IL-15. These results show that RCC cells can inhibit NK activity via CD94 and suggest that disruption of interactions between receptor and ligand on RCC cells in vivo may augment the immune response against tumours by innate effector cells.     

Mechanism of defective NK cell activity in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and AIDS-related complex. I. Defective trigger on NK cells for NKCF production by target cells, and partial restoration by IL 2

Peripheral blood from patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) or AIDS-related complex (ARC) exhibits poor NK activity in the 51Cr-release assay. The present studies were undertaken to investigate the mechanism underlying the observed defective NK cytotoxic activity. On the basis of our studies on the mechanism of natural killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity (NKCMC), a defective NK cell can result from lack or decreased frequency of effector cells, inability to recognize and bind the target cell, failure to be activated for the release of NK cytotoxic factors (NKCF), and/or failure to synthesize or secrete NKCF. Each of these various possibilities was examined. Single cell analysis revealed that the frequency of NK cells was comparable to controls, and although the NK cells bind to the NK-sensitive target, the bound target is not lysed. These results suggested that the defect in NK cells was not due to depletion of NK cells or to a defect in recognition structures, but that it was located at the postrecognition event. We previously demonstrated that after binding to target, the NK cell is stimulated to release NKCF in the supernatants and NKCF lyse specifically NK-sensitive targets. Accordingly, we investigated the activation of NK cells from AIDS and ARC patients for release of NKCF. After coculture with the stimulator cell, the patients' NK cells failed to release active NKCF in the supernatant. However, the cells released NKCF after stimulation with the lectin Con A or a mixture of TPA and ionophore, albeit to a lesser extent than controls. These results suggested that AIDS and ARC NK cells are defective in the trigger involved in release of NKCF. Further studies were done to investigate whether the immunomodulator IL 2 can restore the functional activity of the defective NK cells. Treatment with IL 2 resulted in augmented NK cytolytic activity, but did not reach control levels of activated cells from normal controls. Furthermore, the patients' IL 2-treated cells recover partially the ability to be stimulated by NK cells and to release NKCF. These results suggest that the trigger for NKCF production and the cytolytic function of the patients' NK cells are regulated by IL 2. By delineating the stage at which the AIDS and ARC NK cells are defective, it is now possible to monitor their recovery and to investigate the effect of various biologic response modifiers in restoring NK activity.     

Phorbol ester-induced lymphocyte adherence: selective action on NK cells

Treatment of human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) with phorbol dibutyrate (PDBU) for 20 to 45 min at 37 degrees C induces adherence of 5 to 30% of the cells to plastic. The adherent cells (pAd) were highly enriched in NK cells on the basis of the following findings: 1) they exhibit high NK and ADCC activity but do not lyse the NK-resistant cell line, Daudi; 2) cytotoxic activity is enhanced by pretreatment with interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha); 3) the surface markers of these cells, as determined with monoclonal antibodies, are consistent with NK cells; and 4) they are enriched with cells morphologically similar to large granular lymphocytes. Conversely, the PDBU-nonadherent cells were substantially depleted of NK cells. The fact that the pAd cells do not lyse the Daudi line and that their NK activity can be further augmented by IFN-alpha would suggest that the pAd are enriched for NK cells rather than changed in their characteristics as a result of the separation procedure. Moreover, no consistent and appreciable modulation of NK activity induced by PDBU was observed. This report therefore demonstrates that PDBU selectively induces NK adherence of NK cells, which may have practical as well as biological implications.     

Different sensitivity to interleukin 4 of interleukin 2- and interferon alpha-induced CD69 antigen expression in human resting NK cells and CD3+, CD4-, CD8- lymphocytes.

The effect of rIL-4 on CD69 antigen expression induced by rIL-2 or by rINF-alpha on human resting NK cells and CD3+, CD4-, CD8- T lymphocytes has been investigated. rIL-4 drastically inhibited CD69 antigen expression induced by rIL-2 in both cell types. In contrast, rIL-4 did not alter rINF-alpha-induced CD69 antigen expression. Consistent results were obtained evaluating the cytolytic activity of NK cells against the Raji target cell line: rINF-alpha-induced lytic activity was not inhibited by rIL-4, while rIL-2-induced lytic activity was drastically inhibited. Proliferative activity of NK cells induced by rIL-2, in contrast, was only slightly reduced by rIL-4. rIL-4 did not alter the expression of the beta chain of IL-2 receptor, evaluated in NK cells by indirect immunofluorescence. Expression of the alpha chain of IL-2 receptor could not be detected in NK cells by indirect immunofluorescence. It can therefore be suggested that the selective inhibitory effect of rIL-4 on rIL-2-induced activation of NK cells is not mediated by downregulation of alpha and beta chains of IL-2 receptor.     

Effects of adriamycin on the activity of mouse natural killer cells

Adriamycin, a widely employed anti-neoplastic agent, was found to have either inhibitory or stimulatory effects on NK activity, depending on the site examined. A single i.p. administration of ADM resulted in a rapid increase of cytolytic activity by PEC of various mouse strains. The effector cells appeared to be NK cells, being nonadherent and nonphagocytic; they expressed low amounts of Thy 1.2 antigen and had the same pattern of specificity as splenic NK cells. In contrast to the stimulatory effects of NK activity of PEC, ADM caused a transient dose-dependent depression of NK activity in the spleen, with a peak reduction at day 3 and recovery within a few days thereafter. The depressed NK activity could be reversed by removal of adherent cells by passage through a nylon column. Moreover, ADM induced cytostatic activity against tumor cells by macrophages, suggesting that activated macrophages may be responsible for suppression of splenic NK activity. The possible modulation of the levels of NK activity by ADM-induced macrophages was supported by mixture experiments, in which plastic adherent spleen cells from ADM-treated mice, but not from normal mice, inhibited the NK activity of normal spleen cells.     

Partially restorative role of T cells for low interleukin 2 dependent growth of NK cell progenitors from nude mice

The frequency of cells in the spleens of nude mice which could be grown in conditioned medium containing interleukin 2 and of those which developed natural killer (NK)-like activity was evaluated. Although BALB/c nu/nu spleen cells have higher spontaneous NK activity than euthymic mice, they showed a substantially lower frequency of proliferating and cytotoxic cells as compared to BALB/c nu/+ littermates. This defect in cells of nu/nu mice was reversed in part by culturing nu/nu responder cells in the presence of irradiated (3,000 R) splenic or thymic feeder cells that included T cells. In contrast to the dissociation of NK activity and progenitor frequencies in nude mice, the results of parallel studies with spleen cells from euthymic mice indicated that the limiting dilution assay correlated well with previously described features of NK activity. High-NK-reactive CBA/J mice were found to have a considerably higher frequency of interleukin 2 dependent NK cell progenitors than low-NK-reactive strains of mice when assessed against NK-susceptible YAC-1 targets. The frequency of progenitors of cells cytotoxic against YAC-1 was higher in spleens of high-NK-reactive mice than that of cells reactive against the NK-insensitive target P-815. Furthermore, the phenotype of the progenitor cells and of the cultured effector cells was consistent with that of NK cells rather than cytotoxic T cells in that the cells expressed asialo GM1, some Thy-1, but no detectable Lyt-1 or Lyt-2 antigens. Thus, the present observations suggest that the subpopulation of NK cell progenitors in nude mice which can grow and develop cytotoxic reactivity in vitro in the presence of interleukin 2 is small, that it can be increased appreciably in the presence of T cells, but that this does not represent the major pathway for development of NK cells in athymic individuals.