Natural cytotoxicity

Summary The microcytotoxicity assay was used to examine lymphocyte subpopulations derived from healthy donors or persons suffering from non-malignant diseases for natural cytotoxicity.Part of the natural cytotoxicity may be caused by cells devoid of conventional surface markers. However, most of the natural cytotoxicity was found to be associated with cells bearing Fc receptors, irrespective of T and non-T identity.The Fc receptors appeared to be directly involved in the mechanism of natural cytotoxicity, since blocking of these receptors with Fc fragments or immune complexes significantly reduced this reactivity.Sponsored by the Danish Cancer Society