Dissociation of natural killing and luminol-dependent chemiluminescence

A long lasting luminol-dependent chemiluminescence was seen when mouse NK cell preparations or human NK cell preparations from Percoll gradients were mixed with NK susceptible targets. This CL could be abolished by extensive removal of adherent cells though normal NK cell activity remained. In addition, the NK cell line HY 3-Ag3 did not show any CL; although it expressed a very strong cytolytic activity. Thus, we conclude that there are two cells reacting with NK susceptible targets. First, the NK cell whose cytolytic activity does not necessarily depend on the formation of oxygen metabolites detectable by CL, and second, a more adherent cell population, found in NK cell preparations obtained after Percoll gradients, that reacts with NK-sensitive targets and leads to luminol-dependent CL. The observed CL paralleled the cytotoxicity measured by 51Cr release. The time course of the CL signal was similar in human and mouse. The maximal CL-signal obtained was about 10(5) cpm at 37 degrees C when 10(6) human effector cells were used at a ratio of 5:1 effector to target cells. The CL was shown to be highly temperature dependent.