CHARACTERIZATION OF ANTIBODY-DEPENDENT CYTO-TOXICITY MEDIATED BY HUMAN ALVEOLAR MACROPHAGES

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Abstract
Antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity is believed to be an important host defense mechanism. Although this reaction is mediated by various Fc receptor-bearing effector cells, the ability of a mature macrophage population to mediate this reaction has not been demonstrated. In this study, alveolar macrophages obtained from normal subjects by subsegmental lung lavage were used to determine whether this mature macrophage population had the ability to mediate antibody-dependent cell killing. Alveolar macrophages clearly mediate antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity against antibody-coated erythrocyte targets and the kinetics of the reaction are characteristic of an enzyme-substrate interaction. Alveolar macrophages are more efficient at mediating antibody-dependent cytotoxicity than is their precursor cell, the peripheral blood monocyte.