P815, a transformed mouse mastocytoma cell line, produced and released cytotoxic factors after stimulation with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), but not with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), calcium ionophore A23187 and IgE receptor triggering. The cytotoxic activity was reduced 60% by antibodies to mouse tumour necrosis factor (TNF). In addition, we demonstrated that TNF mRNA was already expressed under normal culture conditions and that it increased after stimulation with PMA. Although it was unknown whether factors other than TNF were lymphotoxin or some other unknown factors, it has been suggested that mast cells have cytotoxic activity, and that they contribute to inflammatory response through the release of TNF, which has a wide range of biological activity.