CD8+ T cells depend on the αβ TCR for Ag recognition and function. However, Ag-activated CD8+ T cells can also express receptors of the innate immune system. In this study, we examined the expression of NK receptors on a population of CD8+ T cells expressing high levels of CD44 (CD8+CD44high cells) from normal mice. These cells are distinct from conventional memory CD8+ T cells and they proliferate and become activated in response to IL 2 via a CD48/CD2-dependent mechanism. Before activation, they express low or undetectable levels of NK receptors but upon activation with IL-2 they expressed significant levels of activating NK receptors including 2B4 and NKG2D. Interestingly, the IL-2-activated cells demonstrate a preference in the killing of syngeneic tumor cells. This killing of syngeneic tumor cells was greatly enhanced by the expression of the NKG2D ligand Rae-1 on the target cell. In contrast to conventional CD8+ T cells, IL-2-activated CD8+CD44high cells express DAP12, an adaptor molecule that is normally expressed in activated NK cells. These observations indicate that activated CD8+CD44high cells express receptors of both the adaptive and innate immune system and may play a unique role in the surveillance of host cells that have been altered by infection or transformation.