Antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity against IBR-infected bovine kidney cells by ruminant neutrophils: the role of lysosomal cationic protein.

Antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) of infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR)-infected bovine kidney cells (MDBK) by neutrophils was demonstrated. Neutrophils from bovine and sheep mammary exudate and peripheral blood, and also from human peripheral blood, were all active in the presence of anti-IBR antibody. The component of the ruminant neutrophil granules which was responsible for cytotoxicity appeared to be cationic protein since purified cationic protein lysed the virus-infected cells and heparin inhibited cytotoxicity. Human neutrophil cytotoxicity to herpes simplex virus (HSV)-infected human Chang liver cells was also inhibited by heparin. Human neutrophil cytotoxicity to IBR-infected bovine kidney cells did not appear to be mediated by cationic protein since it was inhibited by the chelators of oxidative intermediates DMSO, thiourea, tryptophane, benzoate and mannitol, and not by heparin.