Loss of adhesion. A novel and distinct effect of the cytotoxic T lymphocyte-target interaction.

The ability of adherent target cells to remain attached to their substratum is lost as an early consequence of interaction with cytotoxic T lymphocytes. This phenomenon is shown to be a distinct event in the lytic process induced by cytotoxic T lymphocytes and does not occur during lysis by antibody plus complement. Thus loss of adhesion represents a previously unrecognized form of immune damage which may have important implications in both normal and pathologic responses.