Flow cytometry-based assay to study HIV-1 gp120 specific antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity responses

Increased attention on the role of Fc-mediated effector functions against HIV-1 has led to renewed interest into the role that antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) could play in controlling viral transmission and/or the rate of disease progression. While 51Chromium release assays have traditionally been used to study ADCC responses against HIV-1, a number of alternative flow-cytometry-based assays were recently developed. In this study, an alternative flow-cytometry-based assay was established to allow non-radioactive measurement of ADCC-mediated elimination of HIV-1 gp120 envelope glycoprotein (Env)-coated target cells. This assay relies on staining target and effector cells with different dyes, which allows precise gating and permits the calculation of the number of surviving target cells by normalization to flow-cytometry particles. By using small concentrations of recombinant gp120 Env, suitable targets cells that recapitulate the ADCC response mediated against HIV-1-infected cells were generated. Finally, this method was applied successfully to screen human sera for ADCC activity directed against HIV-1 gp120 Env.