Murine mast cells produce cytokines in response to cross-linking of high affinity receptors for IgE (Fc epsilon RI). Murine mast cells also express the two types of low-affinity receptors for IgG, murine (m)Fc gamma RII, and mFc gamma RIII. We examined the ability of mFc gamma R to trigger a cytokine response such as TNF-alpha production by mast cells. We found that the mFc gamma RII- and mFc gamma RIII-positive mouse mastocytoma cells MMC-1 released TNF-alpha when challenged with F(ab')2 fragments of the rat anti-mFc gamma RII/III 2.4G2 mAb and mouse anti-rat IgG F(ab')2. The release of TNF-alpha was preceded by an increase in TNF-alpha transcripts. mFc gamma RII and mFc gamma RIII have 95% homologous extracellular domains but unrelated transmembrane and intracytoplasmic (IC) domains. mFc gamma RII are single chain receptors whereas mFc gamma RIII associate with a homodimeric gamma-chain that also associates with Fc epsilon RI and TCR. In order to analyze the ability of mFc gamma RII and III to trigger the synthesis of TNF-alpha, we studied RBL-2H3 cells transfected with corresponding cDNA. Rat basophilic leukemia (RBL) transfectants expressing mFc gamma RIII produced TNF-alpha in response to 2.4G2 F(ab')2, but not transfectants expressing mFc gamma RII. Non-transfected RBL cells and mFc gamma RII- or mFc gamma RIII-expressing transfectants, however, released TNF-alpha in response to a rat IgG2a mAb. The respective roles of the alpha and gamma subunits of mFc gamma RIII were examined by studying the production of TNF-alpha by RBL cells expressing deletant and chimeric mFc gamma R. The deletion of intracellular amino acids of the Fc gamma RIII alpha subunit did not prevent 2.4G2 F(ab')2 from triggering the synthesis of TNF-alpha. The substitution of the IC domain of mFc gamma RII for that of mFc gamma RIII gamma, but not that of Fc gamma RIII alpha, enabled 2.4G2 F(ab')2 to trigger the release of TNF-alpha by RBL transfectants. A cytokine response can therefore be induced in mouse and rat mast cells through Fc gamma R. This response is triggered upon cross-linking of mFc gamma RIII but not mFc gamma RII. It depends on the IC sequences of the gamma but not of the alpha subunit of mFc gamma RIII.