The ADCC capacity of macrophages from C3H/HeJ and A/J mice can be augmented by BCG.

Macrophages elicited from the peritoneal cavity of C3H/HejJ and A/J mice by bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), although ineffective in mediating tumor cytotoxicity, had augmented capacity to mediate antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) against both erythroid and neoplastic target cells. The level of augmented ADCC was comparable to that expressed by BCG-activated macrophages from control C3H/HeN mice. The data suggest that the defective potential for cytolytic activation in 2 genetically deficient strains of inbred mice does not extend to augmentation of capacity for mediating ADCC and that full expression of cytolytic activation is not necessary for expression of augmented cytolysis of antibody-coated targets.