Human B cells cannot be triggered to kill target cells through their FCγRII or FcϵRII receptors

• Published in: Immunology letters Vol. 28; no. 3; pp. 245 - 250
• Main Authors: MacKenzie, L.E., Erbe, D.V., Pulford, K.A.F., Lydyard, P.M., Fanger, M.W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.06.1991; Elsevier
• Subjects: Analysis of the immune response. Humoral and cellular immunity; Animals; Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity - immunology; Antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity; Antigens, CD - immunology; Antigens, Differentiation - immunology; Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte - immunology; B cells; B-Lymphocytes - immunology; Biological and medical sciences; Cell Line, Transformed; Chickens; Cytokines - immunology; Fc receptors; FcγRII; FcϵRII; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fundamental immunology; Humans; Hybridomas - immunology; Immunobiology; Immunoglobulin E - immunology; Immunoglobulin G - immunology; Lymphocyte Activation; Organs and cells involved in the immune response; Receptors, Fc - immunology; Receptors, IgE; Receptors, IgG; Fc receptors; FcγRII; B cells; Antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity; FcϵRII; Human; Cytolysis; IgE; Cytokine; Red blood cell; Hybridoma; IgG; Activation; B»-Lymphocyte; Membrane receptor; Fc-Fragment; Antibody-dependent cell cytotoxicity; Target cell
• ISSN: 0165-2478; 1879-0542
• DOI: 10.1016/0165-2478(91)90011-X

There has been some controversy as to whether or not B cells can kill target cells through their Fc receptors. To address this, we have examined the ability of human B cells from a variety of sources to lyse hybridoma cells with specificity for either the B cell FcγRII or FcϵRII using a reverse killing assay, as well as their ability to lyse opsonized chicken erythrocytes using a classic ADCC assay. Tonsil B cells, chronic lymphocytic leukemia B cells, and Epstein-Barr virus-induced B cells, even after preactivation with a cocktail of cytokines, all failed to lyse any of these targets. We conclude that FcγRII and FcϵRII on human B cells are not cytotoxic trigger molecules.