Polymorph-mediated antibody-dependent cytoxicity--modulation of activity by drugs and immune interferon.

Bovine polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) mediated antibody-dependent cell cytotoxicity (ADCC) against erythrocyte and herpes virus-infected target cells. The extent of cytotoxicity was not affected by drugs that inhibited DNA, RNA, or protein synthesis. The effect did not occur in the absence of divalent cations, was suppressed by pretreatment of PMN with silica and cytochalasin B, and was subject to the bidirectional control by cyclic nucleotides; drugs decreasing cyclic AMP or elevating cyclic GMP levels enhanced ADCC. The ADCC phenomena was also enhanced by supernates containing immune interferon activity from antigen-stimulated-immune lymphocyte-macrophage cultures. The possibility that immune interferon(s) might be causing the elevation of ADCC and the relevance of this observation in terms of the part interferon might play in modulating recovery from herpes virus infections was discussed.