Generation of inositol phosphates during triggering of cytotoxicity in human natural killer and lymphokine-activated killer cells.

We investigated early molecular mechanisms involved in the triggering of cytolytic responses in natural killer (NK) and lymphokine-activated (LAK) cells. When NK or LAK cells were conjugated to the sensitive target cells K562, an increased formation of both inositol monophosphate (IP1) and inositol trisphosphate (IP3) was detected. Target cells like Raji or Jok-1, which form conjugates with NK cells but are insensitive to NK lysis, did not elicit IP1 formation. Treatment of NK cells with interleukin 2 increased the basal turnover of inositol phosphates and enhanced the phosphatidyl inositol breakdown upon confrontation with sensitive targets. These finding indicate that hydrolysis of phosphatidyl inositols is associated with the signal which triggers the cytolytic response in NK and LAK cells. These events therefore constitute an early marker of the cytolytic activation.