A morphological study of membrane lesions during natural killer-mediated lysis.

Early and late events occurring during cell-mediated cytolysis have been examined ultrastructurally using transmission, scanning and freeze-fracture electron microscopy. K562 erythroleukemic cells were used as target for human natural killer lymphocytes, a subpopulation involved in host defense against tumor, virus infected and allogeneic cells. Cell binding between target and effector is already evident after 15 min, but membrane lesions and target hydration appear after 30 min incubation. At 60 min K562 cells appear swollen and microvilli-deprived. Progressive membrane disruption is also evident and the underlying cytoplasmic material is clearly exposed after 120 min. Submicroscopic membrane lesions appear to be early events in comparison with 51Cr (isotope) release from damage cells.