Activity of rabbit monocytes, macrophages, and neutrophils in antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity of herpes simplex virus-infected corneal cells.

Rabbit phagocytes were examined for their ability to kill target cells infected with herpes simplex virus by antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. Two sources of rabbit corneal cells were used as targets: Staaten Seruminstitut Rabbit Cornea (a continuous cell line) and stromal keratocytes from the middle layer of corneas excised from New Zealand white rabbits. Peritoneal exudate and alveolar macrophages were found to be the most active effector cells, followed by blood neutrophils and monocytes. Peritoneal exudate and alveolar macrophages killed target cells with dilutions of antibody as high as 1:10,000. Monocyte antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity activity was absent in over one-third of the rabbits tested and was only weakly active in positive rabbits. In vitro aging of monocytes did not enhance activity. Antibody reactive with peritoneal exudate macrophages, alveolar macrophages, and blood neutrophil effector cells appeared 7 days after intracorneal injection of infectious herpes simplex virus. Results of these studies show that in vitro assays with a complete rabbit system (effectors cells, antibody, and target cells) can be developed to monitor herpetic disease and suggest an active role for rabbit phagocytes in cytotoxicity of herpes simplex virus-infected cells.