Characterization of the human peripheral effector cells mediating antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity against allogenic cells.

The effector cell populations in human peripheral blood responsible for antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity against allogenic cells coated with HLA polyspecific antibodies were investigated using several separation techniques including preparative electrophoresis. Electrophoresis produced a marked effector cells enrichment in a range of 2--5 fractions which exhibited an intermediary electrophoretic mobility. Monocytic cells do not contribute an effector mechanism but minor subsets of polymorphonuclear cells and nylon wool non-adherent non-phagocytic lymphocytes displayed ADCC. Both effector cell populations were found to exhibit a similar electrical charge of cell surface centered around -1.05 micrometer . sec-1 V-1 cm. These observations provided a precise biophysical basis for the identification of effector cells in ADCC.