Antibody Induced Cell‐Mediated Cytotoxicity. Studies of Human Alloantibodies in a Micro‐Plate‐Test

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Abstract
Human alloantisera were investigated for their ability to induce antibody‐dependent cell‐mediated cytotoxicity (AICC) in a micro‐plate‐system. Ten to 20 × 103 fresh (non‐stimulated) lymphocytes were used as targets, and an effector: target cell ratio of 33:1 was usually satisfactory. Harvesting was performed after 8–16 h of incubation. This system proved as reliable as tests in tubes with larger volumes and cell numbers. The HL‐A specificity of the sera determined by complement‐dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) was found to be completely included in the specificity determined by the AICC test. The latter specificity, however, was broader and the AICC test also revealed much higher titers of alloantibody activity.When antibodies reacted with HL‐A antigens of the effector cells, as revealed by CDC tests, the AICC test was inhibited.By running the test system in medium not containing serum with alloantibody activity, the presence of cytotoxic (T) lymphocytes in the effector cell population could also be detected. Thus, the micro‐test system is a sensitive test for both pre‐existing cellular and humoral immunity against human alloantigens.