Influence of culture medium pH on cytotoxicity of CD95L in vitro

CD95L belongs to the tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) family, the members of which induce apoptosis by activation of their specific receptors. However, there are a few publications suggesting that two of these factors, TNF-alpha and TNF-beta, are able to reveal cytotoxic effect in pH-dependent manner. Therefore we investigated, whether CD95L may also reveal pH-dependent cytotoxicity. We analyzed influence of CD95L on U937 and K562 human cell lines at pH 5.1 and pH 7.4 using radioactive chromium release and tetrazolium salt (MTT) reduction assays. Expression of CD95 in both cell lines was estimated using RNase Protection Assay and FACS analysis. It has been found that short incubation of cells at pH 5.1 did not visibly affect their viability, as measured after 16 or 20 h. Incubation of U937 with CD95L at pH 7.4 resulted in a dose-dependent cell cytotoxicity. The effect was significantly augmented by incubation of cells with CD95L at pH 5.1. K562 cell line was resistant to CD95L at pH 7.4. This result correlated with the lack of CD95 expression in K562 cells. However, incubation at pH 5.1 resulted in a sensitization of K562 cells to CD95L. Our results suggest that CD95L, similarly to TNF-alpha, is able to reveal its cytotoxic activity in a receptor-independent manner and this activity strongly depends on pH of the environment.     

Cytotoxic and mitogenic effect of antimicrobial peptides from neutrophils on cultured cells

Cytotoxic and mitogenic activities of human and rabbit defensines (HNP and NP-2, resp.) and pig antimicrobial peptides from leukocytes (PR-39, prophenin PF-2 and protegrin PG-2) were studied. The above peptides were added to serum-free cell culture medium of the target cell lines K562, L929 and Hep22a. Cytotoxicity was estimated within 1, 3, 6, 24 and 48 h of cell incubation with the tested peptides in concentrations 1, 10, 25 or 100 micrograms/ml. All the examined peptides exhibited a distinct time- and concentration-dependent cytotoxicity. Moreover, by contrast to pig peptides, defensines could induce proliferation in cell subpopulations from cell lines L929 amd Hep22a, or L929 (defensines HNP and NP-2, resp.), keeping resistance to their cytotoxic action.     

Studies on the mechanism of natural killer cytotoxicity. II. coculture of human PBL with NK-sensitive or resistant cell lines stimulates release of natural killer cytotoxic factors (NKCF) selectively cytotoxic to NK-sensitive target cells

This investigation has employed the "innocent bystander" type of experimental design to determine whether soluble cytotoxic factor(s) are released during interactions between human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) and NK-sensitive target cells. PBL cocultured with NK-sensitive Molt-4 or K562 target cells in the lower well of a miniaturized Marbrook culture released natural killer cytotoxic factors (NKCF), which diffused across a 0.2-mu Nucleopore membrane and lysed Molt-4 or K562 target cells cultured in the upper chamber. Coculture of PBL with the NK-resistant Raji or WI-L2 cell lines also induced release of NKCF. These factors were selectively cytotoxic to NK-sensitive targets and lysed Molt-4 and, to a lesser extent, K562 cells. However, Raji, WI-L2, and RPMI 1788 cells were all resistant to lysis. In addition, low density fractions from Percoll density gradients that were enriched for NK effector cells also released increased levels of NKCF during coculture with Molt-4 cells. Lysis of Molt-4 and K562 targets was observed after exposure to NKCF for 48 hr and 60 to 70 hr, respectively. Cellfree supernatants containing NKCF were obtained after a short time of incubation (i.e., within 5 hr of coculture of PBL with NK target cells). The factors were nondialyzable, stable at 56 degrees C for 3 hr, and showed partial loss of activity on storage at 4 degrees C or -20 degrees C for 7 days. These data suggest that NKCF may be involved in the lytic mechanism of human NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity.     

Synthesis, penetrability and intracellular targeting of fluorescein-tagged peptoids and peptide-peptoid hybrids

The search for novel, generally applicable and highly efficient delivery tools is a major activity in the biotechnology arena. Using highly optimized microwave based solid-phase chemistry a series of fluorescein-labelled cationic peptoid conjugates were synthesized within 24h and cellular uptake into HeLa, L929 and K562 cells examined via flow cytometry. As expected, analysis revealed that longer oligomers achieved greater cellular penetration (7e (9 mer)>7d (7 mer)>7c (5 mer)>7b (3 mer)>7a (1 mer)) with the nonamer 7e proving to be a remarkable vehicle for all the cell lines, showing excellent penetrability into K562 and L929 cells and extraordinary cell delivery into HeLa cells. Confocal microscopy showed that the hybrid peptoid-nuclear localizing sequence (PKKKRKV from the simian virus 40 large T antigen) resulted in very high levels of nuclei delivery after 3h, opening up a range of applications such as nuclei staining of living cells with non-DNA-intercalating fluorescent probes.     

Activity of human natural killer cells against target cells possessing different sensitivity to interferon]

The cytotoxic activity of peripheral blood natural killers (NK) against target cells (TC) J-96 and L-929 with high sensitivity to interferon (IFN) action, J-41 and MCB resistant to IFN action and line K-562 labelled by H3-uridine was studied in 14 hrs cytotoxic test. It has been shown that human TC J-96 didn't differ from the J-41 in their sensitivity to NK cytotoxicity and they are strongly resistant to NK than TC K-562. The murine TC L-929 as the human TC didn't differ from the MCB in their sensitivity to NK lysis and had also the same sensitivity to NK as the K-562 cells.     

Growth inhibition and cytotoxicity of tumor necrosis factor in L929 cells is enhanced by high cell density and inhibition of mRNA synthesis

L929 cells were growth-inhibited after 1 to 2 days of treatment with human recombinant tumor necrosis factor (rTNF). This effect of rTNF was largely reversible, and L929 cells resumed normal growth when rTNF was removed. The rTNF showed growth inhibitory and cytotoxic activity when L929 cells approached a high cell density and grew slowly. This was shown in experiments in which L929 cells approached confluency at different times after being seeded at increasing initial densities. The rTNF had little effect on the growth of cells seeded at the lowest density tested. L929 cells cultured to high density synthesized RNA at a reduced rate. This suggested that a reduced rate of RNA synthesis may be at least in part responsible for the growth inhibitory and cytotoxic activities of rTNF on cells grown to high density. Treatment with inhibitors of RNA synthesis potentiated the cytotoxic activity of rTNF. Inhibition of mRNA synthesis was apparently responsible for the enhanced sensitivity to rTNF, as shown by experiments with 5,6-dichloro-1-beta-D-ribofuranosylbenzimidazole, an inhibitor of the synthesis of poly(A)-containing RNA.     

Involvement of prostaglandin-producing pathway in the cytotoxic action of tumor necrosis factor.

To elucidate the cytotoxic mechanism of tumor necrosis factor (TNF), we isolated TNF-resistant sublines of L929 cells. As compared with L929 cells, TNF-resistant cells retained similar number and affinity of TNF-binding sites, and showed a similar growth rate. TNF stimulated arachidonate release from L929 cells, while no stimulation was observed at all in TNF-resistant cells tested. The cytotoxic action of TNF on L929 cells was inhibited by indomethacin, suggesting that prostaglandin may be involved in the action. Therefore, TNF-stimulated prostaglandin production was examined in L929 and TNF-resistant sublines. The amount of PGE2 produced by L929 cells was increased more than 5-fold after the addition of TNF, whereas the amount of PGE2 did not change in the resistant sublines following addition of the factor. TNF-stimulated arachidonate release and PGE2 production were reversed by islet-activating protein (IAP)-treatment of L929 cells. These results suggest that arachidonate release and subsequent prostaglandin production are important for the cytotoxic action of TNF and that these processes are mediated by GTP-binding protein (G protein) that is coupled to the TNF-receptor.     

Analysis of epitope expression and the functional repertoire of recombinant complement receptor 2 (CR2/CD21) in mouse and human cells

We transfected human complement receptor 2 (CR2/CD21) cDNA containing eukaryotic expression constructs into CR2-negative mouse L cells and human K562 erythroleukemia cells. We subsequently selected stably transformed cells that expressed human CR2, as assessed by flow microfluorimetry analysis and immunoprecipitation of 125I-labeled surface membranes using the monoclonal anti-CR2 antibody, HB5. Utilizing flow microfluorimetry analysis, epitopes recognized by anti-CR2 mAb HB5, OKB7, B2, and four other anti-CR2 antibodies were detected on CR2 expressing transfectants but not parental cells. In addition, CR2 expressing transfected cells efficiently formed rosettes with sheep erythrocyte intermediates bearing human C3bi and C3d, but not C4b or C3b, consistent with the known ligand specificity of CR2. CR2 containing transfectants were also demonstrated to specifically bind EBV. Infection with EBV of CR2 expressing L cells and K562 cells resulted in mean expression of Epstein-Barr nuclear Ag (EBNA) at 48 h in 0.35% of CR2 expressing L cells and 3.7% of CR2 expressing K562 cells. Parental L cells and K562 cells did not express EBNA after EBV infection. These results indicate that CR2 alone is sufficient to transfer both C and EBV receptor functions to heterologous cells. In addition, expression of EBNA was found to be significantly higher in human K562 than mouse L cells, both expressing the same recombinant receptor. These results suggest that mechanisms other than CR2 binding lead to inefficient EBV infection and/or EBNA synthesis in mouse fibroblasts.     

Interferon Regulatory Factor (IRF)-1 Is a Master Regulator of the Cross Talk between Macrophages and L929 Fibrosarcoma Cells for Nitric Oxide Dependent Tumoricidal Activity

Macrophage tumoricidal activity relies, mainly, on the release of Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNFα) and/or on reactive oxygen or nitrogen intermediates. In the present work, we investigated the cytotoxic activity of resident peritoneal macrophages against L929 fibrosarcoma cell line in vitro and in vivo. Resident macrophages lysed L929 cells in a mechanism independent of TNFα and cell-to-cell contact. The cytotoxic activity was largely dependent on nitric oxide (NO) release since treatment with L-NAME (NOS inhibitor) inhibited L929 cells killing. Macrophages from mice with targeted deletion of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) together with L929 cells produced less NO and displayed lower, but still significant, tumoricidal activity. Notably, NO production and tumor lysis were abolished in co-cultures with macrophages deficient in Interferon Regulatory Factor, IRF-1. Importantly, the in vitro findings were reproduced in vivo as IRF-1 deficient animals inoculated i.p with L929 cells were extremely susceptible to tumor growth and their macrophages did not produce NO, while WT mice killed L929 tumor cells and their macrophages produced high levels of NO. Our results indicate that IRF-1 is a master regulator of bi-directional interaction between macrophages and tumor cells. Overall, IRF-1 was essential for NO production by co-cultures and macrophage tumoricidal activity in vitro as well as for the control of tumor growth in vivo.     

Human monocyte-mediated lysis of antibody-coated tumor cells: the role of the cytoskeleton in monocytes

Human monocytes (M phi) show high cytolytic activity towards antibody-coated tumor cells (AbK562). In this report, the relationship between the cytoskeleton in the M phi and the M phi cytolytic activity has been investigated. The actin filament inhibitors cytochalasin B and dihydrocytochalasin B (H2CB) both reduced M phi-mediated lysis of AbK562 cells by approximately 50% at a concentration of 1 microM. This concentration of H2CB did not inhibit the number of target cells bound to M phi. Dihydrocytochalasin B did not inhibit the M phi ability to release cytotoxic protein factors, suggesting that H2CB does not inhibit lysis by inhibiting release of cytotoxic protein factors. Immunofluorescence microscopy showed a rapid accumulation of actin filaments towards the contact area in more than 80% of the examined M phi-AbK562 conjugates. Exposure to H2CB did not prevent this accumulation, but caused aggregation of the accumulated actin filaments in the contact area with the target cell. Accumulation of actin filaments did not occur toward tumor cells not coated with antibodies. Scanning and thin section electron microscopy demonstrated large M phi pseudopodia directed toward the AbK562 cells, with close apposition of the effector and target cell membranes with interdigitations. The formation of the M phi pseudopodia was inhibited by exposure to H2CB. These observations indicate that M phi membrane motility toward AbK562 cells is closely related to M phi-mediated lysis of AbK562 cells. Immunofluorescence microscopy of the microtubule-organizing center (MTOC) and the Golgi apparatus revealed that both the MTOC and the Golgi apparatus in M phi reoriented towards the bound AbK562 cells in approximately 45% of the examined M phi-AbK562 conjugates. The microtubule-depolymerizing drugs colchicine and vinblastine did not inhibit M phi-mediated lysis of AbK562 cells at concentrations which disrupted the microtubule arrays in the M phi. The carboxylic ionophore monensin, which blocks Golgi-derived secretion, inhibited M phi-mediated lysis of AbK562 to a lesser extent as compared to H2CB. These results suggest that microtubule functions are of less importance in M phi-mediated lysis of AbK562 cells as compared to actin filament functions. However, the MTOC and the Golgi apparatus could participate in M phi-mediated lysis of AbK562 cells by mechanisms related to secretion of cytotoxic molecules.     

Identification and characterization of the cell surface 70-kilodalton sialoglycoprotein(s) as a candidate receptor for encephalomyocarditis virus on human nucleated cells.

The attachment of encephalomyocarditis (EMC) virus to human nucleated cells susceptible to virus infection was examined with HeLa and K562 cell lines. Both cell types showed specific virus binding competitively blocked by unlabeled virions. The number of binding sites for EMC virus on HeLa and K562 cells were approximately 1.6 x 10(5) and 3.5 x 10(5) per cell, respectively, and dissociation binding constants were 1.1 and 2.7 nM, respectively. Treatment of cells with cycloheximide after pretreatment with trypsin eliminated EMC virus attachment, suggesting that the virus-binding moiety is proteinaceous in nature. Digestion of cells, cell membranes, and sodium deoxycholate-solubilized cell membranes with proteases or neuraminidases or treatment of cells with lectins demonstrated that the EMC virus-cell interaction is mediated by a sialoglycoprotein. Proteins with a molecular mass of 70 kDa were isolated from detergent-solubilized cell membranes of both HeLa and K562 cells by EMC virus affinity chromatography. The purified proteins, as well as their 70-kDa-molecular-mass equivalents detected in intact surface membranes of HeLa and K562 cells, specifically bound EMC virus in a virus overlay protein blot assay, whereas membranes from nonpermissive K562 D clone cells did not. Western immunoblot analysis with glycophorin A-specific antibody confirmed that the identified 70-kDa binding site on K562 cells is not glycophorin A, which is the EMC virus receptor molecule on virus-nonpermissive human erythrocytes (HeLa cells do not express glycophorin A). These results indicate that EMC virus attachment to permissive human cells is mediated by a cell surface sialoglycoprotein(s) with a molecular mass of 70 kDa.     

Natural cytotoxic cells of gilthead seabream: maximum percentage of lysis

The maximum percentage of lysis of head-kidney non-specific cytotoxic cells (NCC) against mammalian tumour cells (L1210 and K562) in the marine teleost gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata L.) was studied. The present data indicate the short period of time necessary for gilthead seabream NCC to form conjugates and deliver a lethal hit. The maximum percentage of lysis observed demonstrates that seabream NCC activity against L1210 tumour cells is faster than against K562 tumour cells. This kinetic parameter suggests that fish NCC show a less efficient cytotoxic activity than their mammalian counterparts. The possibility of applying theoretical treatments to systems consisting of lower vertebrate non-specific cytotoxic cells and tumour targets, similar to those applied to mammals, is considered, and the phylogenetic implications of our findings are discussed.     

Failure of multinucleated giant cell formation in k562 cells infected with newcastle disease virus and human parainfluenza type 2 virus

When K562 cells were infected with Newcastle disease virus (NDV) or human parainfluenza type 2 virus (hPIV-2), polykaryocyte formation could not be detected. Failure of multinucleated giant cell formation in K562 cells infected with either NDV or hPIV-2 is due to disturbance of the viral envelope-cell fusion step or to defect in the cell-cell fusion step, respectively. Especially, NDV completely replicated in K562 cells, and the hemagglutinin-neuraminidase and fusion proteins expressed on the cell surface of NDV-infected K562 cell were fully functional for fusion inducing activity. Therefore, the cell membranes of K562 cells are considered to be resistant to virus-induced cell fusion. Membrane fusion is regulated by many host factors including membrane fluidity, cytoskeletal systems, and fusion regulatory proteins system. An unknown regulatory mechanism of virus-induced cell fusion may function on the cell surface of K562 cells.     

Modulation of natural cytotoxicity by alloantibodies. I. Alloantisera enhancement of cytotoxicity of mouse spleen cells toward a human myeloid cell line.

Natural killer activity of spleen cells obtained from different strains of mice against the human myeloid leukemia cell line, K562, and two mouse cell lines P815 and L1210 was measured by using the 4-hr chromium release assay. The level of cytotoxic activity of spleen cells against the K562 target was usually less than 4% lysis. However, treatment of the spleen cells with a specific anti-H-2 antiserum resulted in a dose-dependent augmentation of the degree of lysis of K562 cells. The augmentation of cytotoxic activity could be obtained by pretreatment of the spleen cells with antisera or by directly adding the antisera to the cytotox-incubation medium. Anti-thy-1 and anti-immunoglobulin antisera had no enhancing effect under similar conditions. The specific alloantisera-treated spleen cells did not show any increase in cytotoxicity against P815 and L1210 target cells. Spleen cells responsible for the alloantiserum-mediated augmentation of cytotoxicity against K562 cells appear to be different from T or B cells as indicated by their resistance to anti-thy-1 and complement treatment and lack of adherence to nylon wool columns.     

Specific increase in calcium-activated neutral protease with low calcium sensitivity (m-calpain) in proerythroblastic K562 cell line cells induced to differentiation by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate

Changes in the level of calcium-activated neutral proteases (calpains) in K562 cells induced to differentiate by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) were examined by an immunohistochemical technique and Western blot analysis. A remarkable increase in m-calpain (high-Ca(2+)-requiring form) level was detected after PMA-treatment, while there was no significant difference in mu-calpain (low-Ca(2+)-requiring form) level between PMA-treated and untreated K562 cells. To confirm whether the increase in m-calpain is specific to PMA-induced differentiation, we examined changes in calpain in K562 cells cultured in serum-free medium and in synchronized cells. The results indicate that the increase has no relation to growth arrest or to cell cycle. PMA-treated cells exhibited increased nonspecific esterase activity, suggesting monocytic differentiation. Immunoelectron microscopic study showed the reactions of dense deposits with monoclonal anti-m-calpain antibody on cell membranes, on membranes of coated vesicles, and on rough endoplasmic reticulum of K562 cells after 26 h of PMA treatment.     

Contribution of caveolin-1 alpha and Akt to TNF-alpha-induced cell death

We used retrovirus insertion-mediated random mutagenesis to generate tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)-resistant lines from L929 cells. Using this approach, we discovered that caveolin-1 alpha is required for TNF-alpha-induced cell death in L929 cells. The need for caveolin-1 alpha in TNF-alpha-induced cell death was confirmed by the restoration of sensitivity to TNF-alpha after ectopic reconstitution of caveolin-1 alpha/beta expression. This caveolin-1 alpha-mutated line was also resistant to H(2)O(2) and staurosporine, but not to lonidamine. HepG2 cells are known to lack endogenous caveolins. HepG2 cells stably transfected with caveolin-1 alpha/beta were found to be much more sensitive to TNF-alpha than either parental cells transfected with caveolin-1 beta or parental cells transfected with an empty vector. In contrast to its extensively documented antiapoptotic effect, the elevated activity of Akt appears to be important in sensitizing caveolin-1-expressing cells to TNF-alpha, since pretreatment of cells with the phosphatidylinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor LY-294002 or wortmannin completely blocked PI3K activation and markedly improved the survival of TNF-alpha-treated L929 cells. The survival rates of caveolin-1 alpha-normal and caveolin-1 alpha-deficient L929 cells were comparable after treatment with PI3K inhibitor and TNF-alpha. Similar results were obtained with HepG2 cells that stably expressed caveolin-1 alpha/beta or -beta and parental cells transfected with an empty vector. In summary, our results indicate that caveolin-1 alpha preferentially sensitizes L929 cells to TNF-alpha through the activation of a PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.     

Depressed natural cytotoxicity but normal natural killer cytotoxic factor (NKCF) production by mononuclear cells derived from patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

Summary This study investigated the relation between the production of natural killer cytotoxic factors (NKCF) and the phenomenon of natural killing (NK) activity against target K562 cells. Two different models of defective NK cell activity were employed. In the first instance, cytotoxic activity of mononuclear cells (MN) derived from patients with hepatocellular carcinoma was compared to the ability of these cells to produce NKCF. Although direct cytotoxicity was considerably impaired in these patients, the ability of their MN to produce NKCF when stimulated with K562 cells was found to be normal. In the second model, MN treated with the lysosomotropic drug monensin showed considerably reduced direct cytotoxic activity, although they were capable of producing normal amounts of NKCF when activated by K562 cells. These results therefore indicate that there is no correlation between NK activity and corresponding NKCF release, and suggest that NKCF production and activity is independent of direct NK cytotoxic activity.     

Fractionation, morphological and functional characterization of effector cells responsible for human natural killer activity against cell-line targets

Human natural killer cells cytotoxic against cell-line target cells (NK-CLT) were isolated and characterized by utilizing adsorption-elution of the effector cells from the K-562 target cells. The cell associated with the cytotoxicity was a large lymphocyte with pale and characteristically granular cytoplasm. Thus, its morphology was identical with that of the large granular lymphocyte (LGL) previously shown to be the principal cytotoxic NK cell against fetal fibroblasts (NK-FF). The association of LGL with natural killer activity was verified with contact analysis from mixtures of unfractionated effector cells and target cells, which revealed that the number of contact of LGL with K-562 was correlated to the level of the individually expressed intensity of natural cytotoxicity. The ANAE-staining distribution of LGL was intensively positive with granular or diffuse staining pattern. In direct surface marker analysis LGL were E-rosette forming but, in contrast to NK-FF, heterogenous in regard to the Fc receptors. During in vitro incubation after elution from the target cells, the cytotoxic activity of LGL increased several fold. Also, the presence of K-562 among unfractionated effector cells caused an augmentation of cytotoxicity. This phenomenon was not observed as a result of effector cell-fetal fibroblast coculturing. Evidence from fetal fibroblast adsorption-elution and aggregated IgG blocking experiments suggested that the LGL with strong expression of Fc receptors were initially cytotoxic “mature” NK-cells, whereas the LGL with a weak expression of Fc receptors were initially noncytotoxic, but contact with K-562 “augmented” or “recruited” them to nonselective cytotoxicity.     

IFN-gamma treatment of K562 cells inhibits natural killer cell triggering and decreases the susceptibility to lysis by cytoplasmic granules from large granular lymphocytes

Pretreatment of human K562 leukemia cells with rIFN-alpha and rIFN-gamma resulted in decreased susceptibility to lysis by human peripheral blood NK cells. The reduction of NK-susceptibility after IFN treatment was not due to a general effect of IFN on the stability of the cell membrane because the susceptibility of K562 cells to lysis by antibodies plus C, distilled water, or lysolecithin was unaffected. Binding studies with effector cell preparations enriched for NK cells with large granular lymphocyte morphology revealed no difference in binding to control and IFN-gamma-treated target cells. The sensitivity to soluble NK cytotoxic factors was not affected significantly by the IFN treatment. In contrast, the susceptibility of IFN-treated target cells to the cytotoxic activity of purified cytoplasmic granules from a rat large granular lymphocyte tumor was significantly reduced, indicating that the IFN-induced resistance acted at the level of susceptibility to the lytic mechanism of NK cells. However, IFN-alpha was more effective than IFN-gamma in inducing resistance to the cytoplasmic granules although resulting in only a weak resistance in the cell-mediated cytotoxic assay. IFN-gamma but not IFN-alpha caused a reduction in the frequency of effector cells that had reoriented their Golgi apparatus toward their bound target cell. In addition, IFN-gamma treated K562 cells failed to elicit an influx of Ca2+ into effector cells. Taken together, the results suggest that IFN-gamma in addition to an increased resistance to the lytic molecules released by NK cells can also induce changes in the target cells which prevent the triggering and activation of the effector cell.     

Human cytotoxic lymphocytes. IV. Frequency and clonal specificity of CD8+CD16-(Leu2+Leu11-) and CD16+CD3-(Leu11+Leu4-) cytotoxic lymphocyte precursors activated by alloantigen or K562 stimulator cells

Cell sorter-purified CD8+CD16- (Leu2+Leu11-) cytotoxic T cell precursors and CD16+CD3-(Leu11+Leu4-) natural killer (NK) cells were cultured under limiting dilution (LD) conditions with allogeneic stimulator cells or with K562 tumor cells in the presence of exogenous interleukin 2. One out of 100-200 alloantigen-stimulated Leu2+ T cells clonally developed into an alloantigen-specific cytotoxic T cell, but only 1 out of 500-3400 of these cells lysed NK-susceptible K562 target cells. In contrast, 1 out of 2-35 alloantigen-stimulated Leu11+ precursor cells developed into an effector cell that lysed K562, but less than 1 out of 500 of these cells lysed allogeneic Con A blast targets. However, clonal activation of Leu11+ precursor cells under LD conditions did not require alloantigenic stimulator cells. Comparable high frequencies (f = 1/3 to 1/28) of anti-K562 cytotoxic lymphocyte precursors were thus measured when Leu11+ precursor cells were cultured on autologous or K562 feeder cells. As shown by a split culture approach, the vast majority of alloantigen-activated Leu2+ effector cells were highly specific for the stimulating alloantigen (i.e., they did not lyse K562), while the majority of Leu11+ microcultures lysed K562 tumor cells but neither autologous nor allogeneic Con A blast targets. On a quantitative basis, these data show that CD8+CD16- T cells and CD16+CD3-NK cells are two mutually exclusive lymphocyte populations which clonally develop into cytotoxic effector cells specific for alloantigen or K562 target cells, respectively.