Antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity in poikilotherms.

51Cr-chromate labelled chicken red blood cells, treated with rabbit (anti-chicken red blood cell) serum, are lysed in vitro, in the absence of complement, by spleen cells from Xenopus laevis, Ambystoma mexicanum or Lacerta viridis. Optimal conditions for lysis by Xenopus spleen cells were determined. The phenomenon seems homologous with antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) mediated by mammalian or avian K cells. The phylogenetic significance of the finding is discussed.