Antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity (LMC) in patients with vascular disease and guinea pigs immunized with human vascular extracts.

Antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity (LMC) were studied in vitro in patients with myocardial infarction, peripheral arterial disease or thrombophlebitis. LMC was also investigated in guinea pigs immunized with human vascular extracts. 51-Chromium-labelled chicken erythrocytes were used as target cells. In LMC tests human aortic or venous extracts were coated on the surface of sensitized erythrocytes. Cytotoxicity of separated lymphocyte populations was expressed by cytotoxic capacity. ADCC was decreased and LMC was increased both in patients and in immunized animals compared with controls. T-cells induced the largest cytotoxic effect. O (null)-cells also had cytotoxic capacity against vascular antigen coated targets in patients and in immunized animals. Cytolytic T-lymphocytes are thought to be responsible for cytotoxicity both of T- and O-cells. The LMC test seems to be useful for in vitro detection of cellular sensitization against vascular or other specific antigens.