ADCC is an innate immune response resulting in the lysis of target cells, mediated by antibodies specifically binding to cell surface antigens. When therapeutic antibodies with ADCC activity bind to cells expressing the target antigen, they induce non-specific cytotoxic cells, such as NK cells, to interact with the Fc region of the antibody via the FcγIIIa receptor. These cytotoxic immune cells are then activated to release cytokines such as IFN-γ or TNF-α and cytolytic granules that induce cell death.
