Apoptosis as the mode of cell death in antibody-dependent lymphocytotoxicity

A light and electron microscopic study of antibody-dependent lymphocytotoxicity was carried out with the object of elucidating the mechanisms responsible for the cell killing, the basis for the research being the relationship that has recently been shown to exist between the morphology of cell death and its pathogenesis. Chang liver cells coated with a rabbit anti-human antibody were used as targets and normal human peripheral-blood lymphocytes as effector cells. Cytotoxicity assays using release of 51Cr demonstrated extensive K-cell killing, thus validating the suitability of the model for morphological studies. Cell death displaying the features of apoptosis correlated with K-cell activity. A small amount of cell death by classical necrosis was observed, but its extent appeared to be unrelated to the presence of lymphocytes, to pre-treatment of the target cells with antibody, or to the magnitude of 51Cr release. The results support evidence indicating that lymphocytotoxicity depends on activation of a self-destruct program within the target cell. They do not favour a mechanism involving the production of plasma membrane lesions analogous to those responsible for complement-mediated immune cytolysis.