Antibody-Dependent Cell-Mediated Cytotoxicity in the Mouse

The surface characteristics of the mouse spleen cells mediating antibody-dependent cytotoxicity (ADCC) against antigen-coated chicken erythrocytes have been studied by several different column fractionation methods The major effector cells in this system were shown to be surface-adherent and could be depleted from spleen cells by passage through glass-bead ovalbumin/anti-OA immune complex columns (Fc receptor-binding), glass-bead immunoglobulin/anti-mouse Ig columns (Fc receptor and surface immunoglobulin-binding), and glass-bead mouse Ig/rabbit (Fab')₂-anti-mouse Ig or Sephadex G-200/rabbit anti-mouse Ig columns (surface immunoglobulin binding) The concentration of EDTA in the medium used to fractionate the cells played a significant role in determining whether surface immunoglobulin could be demonstrated on the ADCC effector cells. From these results, the conclusion was drawn that ADCC on the part of mouse spleen cells could be mediated by surface-adherent, Fc receptor-positive cells bearing surface immunoglobulin of unknown origin. The possibility that ADCC can be mediated by a heterogenous population of cells in the mouse spleen is discussed.