The reaction of antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC)

peer reviewedThe antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) is a cytotoxic reaction mediated by non immune cells (effector cells) against target cells sensitized by antibodies which are specific of the target cells' surface antigens. Those antibodies belong mostly to the IgG class. Several kinds of leucocytes can play a role in ADCC. All of them bear a receptor for the Fc fragment of the immunoglobulins. The efficacy of each population of effector cells varies according to the animal species and the type of the target cell. Some ADCC effectors are very similar to the natural killers (NK) but they do not belong exactly to the same subpopulation. ADCC can be studied by an indirect method (Cr51 release) or by a direct visual method (single cell assay). Several substances can influence ADCC reactions: corticoids either do not modify or inhibit the reaction. Interferon does not interact with ADCC nor enhances it. Antibiotics do not influence the reaction. Complement enhances the ADCC. Complement reduces the concentration of antibodies and the number of effector cells required for lysis. ADCC plays a role in several biological processes like graft rejection, autoimmune diseases, antitumoral defence, antiparasitical defence, antiviral defence which seems to be its most important role in domestic animals. ADCC can be used to study the evolution of sensitizing antibodies following a viral infection