Systemic induction of cells mediating antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity following administration of interleukin 2.

We have previously demonstrated that incubation of murine cells in vitro in interleukin 2 (IL-2) induced antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and that these cells were derived from the NK/LAK, FcR+ cell population. In the present study we show that in vivo administration of IL-2 to mice induces cells which exhibit ADCC activity in the peritoneal cavity, liver, lungs, and to a lesser degree in the bone marrow, spleen, mesenteric lymph nodes, and thymus. A gradual increase in ADCC activity and the number of Fc-receptor-positive cells was seen 1 to 3 days after starting IL-2 treatment. The cells mediating ADCC are closely related to LAK cells since they expressed Thy1.2 antigens and are derived from asialo GM1-positive, Lyt2/L3T4-negative, radiosensitive cells. These results demonstrate that IL-2 can systemically induce cells with ADCC activity and that this ability may be useful in the establishment of therapeutic models against disseminated cancer when combined with specific antitumor monoclonal antibodies.