IgE-dependent cellular adhesion and cytotoxicity to Litomosoides carinii microfilariae--nature of effector cells.

Albino rats immunized with sonicated microfilarial antigen incorporated in Freund's complete adjuvant, produce antibodies that promote cell-mediated adhesion and killing of Litomosoides carinii microfilariae in vitro. Using highly purified cell populations, it has been shown that macrophages and neutrophils are most active in this phenomenon. Eosinophils, while adhering readily to parasites in the presence of the antibody, did not affect the viability of the parasites when observed after 24 hr incubation.