ADCC is also mediated by gamma delta T cells. To study the ADCC by gamma delta T cells in vitro, they are positively selected by immunomagnetic purification (miltenyi biotec kit). The gamma delta T cells show significant increase in ADCC compared to cytotoxicity in absence of antibody. Thus ideally positive selection does not affect the functions of these cells. However look into the epitope on the NK cells to which the antibody (provided in the immunomagnetic purification kit) binds.

Nevertheless, it is always better to give a try and test the ADCC by NK cells.

Best luck

Hi Mohammed, 

The majority of cells you get via negative selection from human blood have CD16 and should be perfectly capable of ADCC. In our hands, Miltenyi kits will give us 90%+ purities, so this should be fine. The other option is to measure NK activation (e.g. CD107a recirculation assays or intracellular cytokine staining) instead of target cytotoxicity, which are our assays of choice. One can then use PBMC as effectors, but then visualise responding NK cells via flow cytometry. This system has the added advantage of no requirement for purification and minimal alteration in NK phenotypes caused by in vitro culture. 

Best wishes,

Eddie