Human lymphoblastoid cell lines as effector cells in mitogen-dependent and antibody-dependent cell-mediated lysis.

Based on reports that both human and murine lymphoblastoid cell lines can effect lysis in antibody-dependent (ADCC) and mitogen-induced (MICC) cell-mediated cytotoxicity, 10 human lymphoblastoid cell lines were investigated for their ability to act as effector cells in these lytic reactions. Four cell lines promoted MICC and ADCC of chicken erythrocytes. MICC was inhibited by subjecting the effector cells to gamma-irradiation, and ADCC was partially inhibited by treating antibody-coated target cells with Protein A from Staphylococcus aureus. The latter finding suggests that antibody plays a role in the cytotoxic reaction. The lytic activity of cultured human lymphoid cells in both MICC and ADCC reactions was, however, quite variable for unknown reasons. Because of this instability human lymphoblastoid cell lines are not a suitable source of effector cells for studying the biological and molecular properties of structures responsible for the lytic reaction.