A Sensitive in Vitro Microassay for Detecting Antibody-Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity Possible Role in Monitoring Lymphocyte Function

SUMMARY A microassay for detecting antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) is described. This technique was found to be highly sensitive, i.e., cytotoxicity was detected at high antiserum dilutions and at low effector to target cell ratios, and required low numbers of target (500–1,000) and effector cells (10,000–100,000) as well as short incubation periods (1–2 hr). The availability of a microassay will permit wider use of ADCC as a method for evaluating lymphocyte function in a variety of human diseases.