Ulcerative colitis serum recognizes the M(r) 40K protein on colonic adenocarcinoma cells for antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity.

Antibodies in ulcerative colitis (UC) serum promote antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) against colon cancer cells. The target molecules on the cells recognized by the antibody are unknown. This study examines the role of the M(r) 40K colon epithelial protein in this process. Serum from 29 UC patients, but not from 19 patients with Crohn's disease, significantly (p < 0.001) induced more cytotoxicity than did normal serum against DLD-1 colon cancer cells which are known to express the M(r) 40K protein. Peripheral blood lymphocytes but not polymorphonuclear leukocytes showed ADCC. Anti-M(r) 40K monoclonal antibodies significantly (p < 0.001) inhibited the UC-serum-induced ADCC, but not the spontaneous cytotoxicity. These results suggest the involvement of the M(r) 40K protein in ADCC induced by UC serum.