Antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity and natural killer cytotoxicity of peritoneal cells from nude mice to herpes simplex virus-infected cells.

Nude BALB/c mice (athymic) were more susceptible to fatal herpes simplex virus (HSV) than normal BALB/c mice (P = 0.002). The peritoneal cells of nude mice mediated levels of antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) of equal or greater magnitude than cells from normal BALB/c, heterozygote nu/+, or C57BL/6 mice. Unstimulated natural killer cytotoxicity of peritoneal cells from nude mice was higher (P less than 0.05) than that mediated by cells from C57BL/6 mice. Nude mice failed to make anti-HSV ADCC antibody 6 to 14 days post HSV inoculation, at times when nu/+, BALB/c, and C57BL/6 mice produced antibody. Passive reconstitution of nude mice with high titer intraperitoneal anti-HSV immune globulin provided circulating anti-HSV ADCC antibody and significant protection against lethal HSV infection.