In this report we present data on the ability of the different Fc gamma R present on eosinophils to mediate killing of erythroid and tumor targets, and on a comparison of eosinophil and neutrophil Fc gamma R-mediated killing. Erythroid target killing was assessed using chicken erythrocytes (CE) and heteroantibodies composed of Fab fragments of anti-CE antibodies covalently coupled to Fab fragments of anti-Fc gamma R antibodies. Such anti-CE x anti-Fc gamma R reagents permit linkage of CE target cells with the FcR molecules on the eosinophil or neutrophil effector cells. Tumor target killing was assessed using hybridoma cell lines (HC) bearing anti-Fc gamma R antibodies on their cell surface. Freshly isolated eosinophils and neutrophils constitutively express similar amounts of the low affinity Fc gamma R, Fc gamma RII on their cell surface, but neither cell type expresses the high affinity Fc gamma R, Fc gamma RI. In contrast, eosinophils have only about 5% as much of the low affinity Fc gamma R found on human granulocytes and large granular lymphocytes (Fc gamma RIII) as neutrophils. Untreated, freshly prepared eosinophils or neutrophils did not lyse any of the anti-Fc gamma R bearing HC nor did they lyse CE in the presence of anti-Fc gamma R containing heteroantibodies. Upon treatment with granulocyte monocyte-CSF (GM-CSF), both cell types lysed HC-bearing antibody to Fc gamma RII (HC IV.3A) and CE in the presence of anti-CE x anti-Fc gamma RII heteroantibodies. However, neither cell type lysed HC-bearing antibody to Fc gamma RI or Fc gamma RIII, or CE in the presence of anti-CE x anti-Fc gamma RI HA. Treatment with GM-CSF did not significantly alter the number of Fc gamma R on either cell type. Treatment of neutrophils with IFN-gamma for 18 h induced the expression of Fc gamma RI on these cells and their ability to lyse anti-Fc gamma RI- or Fc gamma RII-bearing HC and CE through Fc gamma RI, Fc gamma RII, and Fc gamma RIII. In contrast, 6-h treatment of eosinophils or neutrophils with IFN-gamma induced neither Fc gamma RI expression on either cell type nor killing of HC or CE through Fc gamma R. In summary, incubation with GM-CSF, induced eosinophils and neutrophils to kill anti-Fc gamma RII-bearing HC and to lyse CE through Fc gamma RII. This augmented killing was not associated with enhanced expression of Fc gamma RII.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)