Antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) against Epstein-Barr virus-determined membrane antigens. I. Reactivity in sera from normal persons and from patients with acute infectious mononucleosis.

The capacity of antibodies, directed against EBV-determined membrane antigens (MA), to induce antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) against EBV superinfected lymphoid cell lines was investigated. Such reactive antibodies were found, at high dilutions, in sera from normal EBV-positive persons but not in sera from EBV-negative persons. Sera from patients with acute infectious mononucleosis (IM), which develop EBV-specific killer T cells, did not induce ADCC. The difference in specificity between ADCC and EBV-specific killer T cells is briefly discussed.