Natural killer cell activity and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity in newborn infants.
The ability of lymphocytes from the peripheral blood of preterm and term infants and adult women and men to mediate natural killing (NK) and K cell activity (antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity) was analysed in 4 hours 51Cr-release assays. K 562 cells were targets for NK activity. K cell activity was assayed on antibody-coated rat thymocytes. Lymphocytes from adult male donors were significantly more cytotoxic to K 562 cells than were lymphocytes from adult female donors. Lymphocytes from both preterm and term infants had significantly lower NK and K cell activity than lymphocytes from adult donors. During the first month of life no increase in NK activity or K cell activity occurred in 7 infants who were re-examined. It is concluded that neither NK nor K cell activities are fully developed during the first month of life.
D000328:Adult; D000920:Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male