Natural killer (NK) activity is an operational designation. It implies the in vitro cytotoxicities registered in short-term tests exerted by lymphocytes derived from donors with no known immunization history against the particular target. The strength of the effect exerted by unmanipulated blood lymphocytes shows an individual variation. Short-term in vitro treatment with interferon elevates the lytic potential of lymphocytes. Owing to the heterogeneity of the cytotoxic blood lymphocytes with regard of cell surface properties it is not possible to separate all active cells and inactive cells in clean populations. A considerable enrichment of active cells can be achieved if nylon wool non-adherent, large, granular Fc gamma receptor positive SRBC receptor negative--or low-avidity SRBC receptor positive--OKM1-reactive cells are separated. Negative cells are concentrated in the Fc receptor and OKM1-negative high-avidity SRBC receptor positive high cell density subset. The activity of lymphocytes in the former category is potentiated by interferon and the latter acquire the lytic function if PHA is added to the assay system. Freshly separated, non-cultured tumor cells are not or weakly sensitive to the effect of unmanipulated lymphocytes. However, when the lymphocytes are treated with interferon prior to the assay a lytic potential can be induced even against these in allogeneic effector target combinations. Cytotoxic cells which acquired the function after in vivo and/or in vitro immunization are designated as 'cytotoxic T-lymphocytes' (CTL), and were shown to act on the basis of antigen recognition. The expression of known T-markers on at least a fraction of the active cells and the recognition of alloantigens in NK systems suggest that the distinction between CTL and NK cells is not as sharp as initially suggested.