Cell membrane-mediated cytolysis by membranes from noncytolytic cells.

Cytolysis was obtained with plasma membrane fractions prepared not only from cytolytic T cells, but also from nonimmune lymphoid cells and, moreover, from cell lines of nonlymphoid origin displaying no lytic ability. Furthermore, no relationship exists between the genetic specificty of T cell-mediated cytolysis and the activity of membrane preparations. If anything, it appears that certain cell types may be unusually sensitive to membrane-mediated cytolysis. Our observations argue against a mechanistic relationship between T cell-mediated and membrane-mediated cytolysis.