Antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity

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Cell mediated immunity is the counterpart to the humoral element of the immune system. This employs three main mechanisms of killing infected cells (i.e. viral invasion); Natural Killer Cells (NK Cells); Cytotoxic T-Lymphocytes (CTL) and Antibody-Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity (ADCC).

[edit] Antibody-Dependent Cell-Mediated Cytotoxicity

ADCC is the least understood of the three mechanisms. It is mediated by NK cells. The action of ADCC is dependent on the recognition of the infected cell by Fc receptors on the surface of the effector (NK) cell. The effector cell's Fc receptors recognize the Fc (constant) portion of antibodies bound to the surface of a pathogen-infected cell. This is similar to, but independent of, cytotoxic responses by CD8 T cells (CTLs). This process is part of the adaptive immune response due to the dependence on antibodies and therefore a former antibody response is required for this mechanism to be effective against an invading pathogen.