Sensitization with Fusobacterium nucleatum targets antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity to mammalian cells.

Incubation of mammalian tumor cells with either soluble of insoluble fractions (10 to 100 micrograms/ml) of Fusobacterium nucleatum sensitizes them to the destructive activity of antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) effector cells in the presence of anti-F. nucleatum antisera. All three types of ADCC effector cells are capable of destroying F. nucleatum-sensitized target cells with varying degrees of effectiveness (lymphocytes much greater than monocytes greater than neutrophils). Hyperimmune rabbit anti-F. nucleatum antisera were active at a dilution as high as 1/100,000. Our studies indicated that F. nucleatum must be bound to the target cells since if either the effector cells are treated with F. nucleatum or F. nucleatum is directly to an ADCC reaction, there is no significant effect on cytotoxicity. The kinetics of F. nucleatum-targeted ADCC are identical to those of classical ADCC, suggesting a similar mechanism. The specificity of F. nucleatum-targeted ADCC was demonstrated by cold target inhibition studies and by showing that other antibacterial antisera were incapable of mediating the activity.