Rl. Chen et al., Neutrophils are cytotoxic and growth-inhibiting for neuroblastoma cells with an anti-GD2 antibody but, without cytotoxicity, can be growth-stimulating, CANCER IMMU, 48(11), 2000, pp. 603-612
Neutrophils and mononuclear cells (MNC) can mediate antibody-dependent cell
ular cytotoxicity (ADCC) against cancer cells. To study cytotoxicity and gr
owth inhibition of neuroblastoma cells by neutrophils and MNC with chimeric
anti-disialoganglioside (GD2) monoclonal antibody (mAb) ch14.18, we develo
ped digital image microscopy scanning (DIMSCAN) assays that measure fluores
cence of target cells in 96-well plates after 6-18 h (cytotoxicity assay) o
r 7 days (growth assay). Neuroblastoma cell lines (GD2-positive: SMS-KCN, S
MS-LHN, LA-N-1; GD2-negative: SK-N-SH) were preloaded with calcein acetoxym
ethyl ester fbr the cytotoxicity assay or labeled in situ after 7 days of c
ulture with fluorescein diacetate in the growth assay. Fluorescence, as qua
ntified by DIMSCAN, was correlated with neuroblastoma cell number in both a
ssays (100-2000 cells/well). In the cytotoxicity test, both neutrophils and
MNC effectively mediated ADCC of GD2-positive but not GD2-negative neurobl
astoma cell lines. Cytotoxicity of both neutrophils and MNC increased with
effector to target cell (E:T) ratio (5-50:1) and mAb ch.14.18 dose (0.1-10
mu g/ml). ADCC of neutrophils, but not MNC, increased with addition of GM-C
SF. Neutrophils, especially with rhGM-CSF, significantly suppressed growth
of GD2-positive cell lines at a high E:T ratio (50:1) and mAb dose (10 mu g
/ml). Without antibody, neutrophils inhibited growth of one cell line (LAN-
1) but stimulated growth of two others (SMS-KCN, SMS-LHN). If neuroblastoma
cells did not express GD2 (SK-N-SH), neutrophils stimulated growth whether
or not antibody was present. Neutrophil culture supernatants increased gro
wth of SK-N-SH, LA-N-1, and SMS-KCN cells, and MNC culture supernatants inc
reased growth of SK-N-SH. In conclusion, neutrophils call mediate cytotoxic
ity and growth inhibition with a chimeric anti-GD2 antibody but also can pr
omote tumor cell growth if antibody is not present or if GD2 is not express
ed.