Augmentation of antibody-dependent cell-mediated hepatocytotoxicity by culture supernatant from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated Kupffer cells

A significant liver cell damage was induced when the isolated liver cells coated with the specific antibody against the liver cell membrane were cultured with peripheral blood mononuclear cells and their culture fluid was added to the isolated liver cells. These were demonstrated by measuring the decrease in protein synthesis of liver cells. These liver cell injuries by antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) were significantly potentiated by adding the culture supernatant of LPS-activated Kupffer cells to the effector cells. Since interleukin-1 activity was detected in the culture supernatant of LPS-activated Kupffer cells, it is likely that augmentation of ADCC by activated Kupffer cells is attributable to interleukin-1 at least partially. These results suggest a possibility that Kupffer cells may modulate the ADCC reaction.