Age-dependent decline of natural killer and antibody-dependent cell mediated cytotoxicity activity of human lymphocytes is connected with decrease of their acid phosphatase activity.

Decline of cytotoxic potential of lymphocytes of aged persons in ADCC and NK cell mediated cytotoxic reaction was paralleled by a drop in the activity of acid phosphatase. Intensity of ADCC reaction and the level of acid phosphatase activity showed statistically significant correlation when these two parameters were measured in peripheral blood of the same persons. The role of acid phosphatase in cytotoxic function of lymphocytes is discussed.