Antibody-dependent lymphocytotoxicity induced by immunoglobulin G from Hodgkin's disease splenic lymphocytes

Immunoglobulin G, produced in cultures of splenic lymphocytes obtained from patients with Hodgkin's disease, bound to a population of homologous peripheral blood lymphocytes and initiated antibody-dependent cell cytotoxicity in cultures from five out of eight patients. Two patients whose cultures produced negative results had minimal disease; the other was in remission. The target cells appear to be T lymphocytes; the effector cells bear Fc receptors that are inhibited by antigen-antibody complexes. Antibody-dependent cell cytotoxicity events may produce the anergy and lymphopenia often seen in Hodgkin's disease.