Age-related changes in antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity in mouse spleen

The age-related variation in antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) in spleen was examined in four different mouse strains (DBA/2, Balb/c, NZB and NZB/NZW). The ADCC effector activity against antibody-coated chicken red blood cells in untreated spleen from all four strains was roughly comparable. An initial rise in activity with increasing age until two to three months was followed by a sharp decline in effector activity. Treatment of the spleen cells with poly-l-lysine-coated carbonyl iron to remove phagocytes resulted in a decrease in ADCC activity in NZB, NZB/NZW and DBA/2 strains at all ages examined. The same general pattern of age-dependent decline was still seen in these depleted spleens. However, the same treatment essentially abolished ADCC in Balb/c spleen at all ages studied.