Human leukocytes kill varicella-zoster virus-infected fibroblasts in the presence of murine monoclonal antibodies to virus-specific glycoproteins.

Seven murine monoclonal antibodies reacting with major glycoproteins of varicella-zoster virus were tested for functional activity in assays for antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and antibody-plus-complement-mediated lysis. Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells killed varicella-zoster virus-infected fibroblasts in the presence of three of four monoclonal antibodies directed against gp98/62 and a single monoclonal antibody directed against gp118. Neither of two monoclonal antibodies directed against gp66 was able to mediate ADCC. In 18-h assays, adherent effector cells were more active than nonadherent effector cells in mediating ADCC. Adherent cells treated with anti-Leu-11b and complement retained their cytotoxic activity, suggesting that monocytes are responsible for most of the adherent-cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Both immunoglobulin G1 and G2a murine monoclonal antibodies were able to participate in ADCC. Of the two immunoglobulin G2a monoclonal antibodies tested, both of which reacted with gp98/62, only one mediated lysis in the presence of complement. These results indicate that some murine monoclonal antibodies against major glycoproteins of varicella-zoster virus have functional activity in cytotoxicity assays.