A humoral cytotoxic substance produced by a human killer cell line.

The production of a cytotoxic factor synthesized by human haemic killer cells growing in vitro is described. The factor can be found extra- and intra-cellularly. It is released from the cells by an apocrine form of secretion, illustrated by light and electron micrographs. The culture fluid from 14C-labelled killer cells reveals numerous radioactive bands following SDS-gel electrophoresis. The killing factor is precipitated by 30 to 60% saturation of ammonium sulphate. Cultures of human rhabdomyosarcoma and osteosarcoma cells are more susceptible to the killer cells than normal human dermal or lung fibroblasts. During contact or killer with target cells a higher level of cytotoxic activity can be detected in the culture fluid. The cell-killing activity is completely inactivated by 30 min at 60 degrees C, but it is not absorbed by target cells during 1 h of incubation. The cytotoxic factor is unlikely to be an interferon since it did not prevent the replication of a wide range of viruses and only a low level of interferon could be detected in the culture medium. The introduction of Strep. faecalis into cultures of killer cells caused their transformation into immunoblast-like cells, indicating their lymphoid origin. The cells did not phagocytose the microorganism. When the humoral factor was injected into fibro-sarcoma-bearing mice approximately 50% survived, whereas all control animals died.