Use of antisera and complement for the purification of lymphocyte subpopulations

Purification and partial characterization of a shed 66 kDa melanoma-associated antigen identified by autologous antibody

We have previously reported the isolation of a 66 kDa melanoma-associated antigen, identified by autologous antibody, in serum and unfractionated spent tissue culture media by Western blot analysis. The antigen, detected by autologous serum S150, was found to be broadly represented on melanoma, glioma, renal cell carcinoma, neuroblastoma and head and neck carcinoma cell lines. S150 did not react with bladder or colon carcinoma, fetal fibroblasts, pooled platelets, lymphocytes and red blood cells, autologous cultured lymphocytes or fetal calf serum. To further characterize the antigen, spent tissue culture media, obtained from autologous melanoma cell line, Y-Mel 84:420, was separated by an isoelectric focusing column. Unabsorbed control serum S150 was noted to have a maximum titer of 1:2040 against autologous melanoma cells as measured by protein A hemadsorption. Following isoelectric focusing the greatest decrease in autologous antibody titer (30-fold) occurred with fractions having a pI between 2 and 3. Further resolution of the antigen was accomplished with high-pressure ion-exchange chromatography. One of these fractions showed a significantly higher concentration of antigen and was distinctly resolved from bulk serum albumin. Subsequent Western blot analysis, with autologous antibody, of the isolated antigen-containing fraction, confirmed the presence of a single 66 kDa band. Exposure of the antigen, purified by high-pressure ion-exchange chromatography, to neuraminidase ablated recognition by autologous antibody and suggests that sialic acid is present on the protein and may be part of the antigenic epitope. Binding of antigen, obtained following DEAE anion exchange chromatography, was noted to lectins derived from Triticum vulgaris, Dolichos biflorus and Lycopersicon esculentum. Preparative purification of the antigen was accomplished by anion exchange followed by lectin affinity chromatography with a Dolichos biflorus column. Antigen obtained following lectin affinity chromatography subjected to SDS-PAGE and silver stain revealed a single band at 66 kDa. We conclude that a melanoma-associated antigen detected by autologous antibody in spent tissue culture media is an unusually acidic glycoprotein (pI 2-3).

Effects of isolated rheumatoid synovial cells on cartilage degradation in vitro

Rheumatoid synovium in coculture with cartilage has been shown to release a factor(s) that stimulates the depletion of glycosaminoglycans (GAG) from cartilage matrix. Human rheumatoid synovium was enzymatically disaggregated and the isolated cells were subjected to a variety of mechanical and immunological treatments. Synovial cell conditioned media (SCCM) were prepared and analyzed for their ability to stimulate GAG depletion. SCCM prepared from increasing concentrations of isolated synovial cells demonstrated cartilage degradative activity in a dose-dependent manner. This activity was characterized as interleukin-1 like and was found mostly within the adherent cell population where the synovial macrophages retained significant degradative ability. T cells alone were found to have no direct degradative effect on cartilage, but their presence appeared to augment the response of the adherent cells. The techniques described here provide a quantitative model for examining the degradative factors from synovium as well as the cellular interactions that promote their release.

Migration pathways of recirculating murine B cells and CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes

Migration pathways of B cell and CD4+ and CD8+ T cell subsets of murine thoracic duct lymphocytes (TDL) were mapped. Per weight, the spleen accumulated more TDL than any other organ, regardless of lymphocyte subset. Spleen autoradiographs showed early accumulations of TDL in marginal zone and red pulp. Many TDL exited the red pulp within 1 hr via splenic veins. The remaining TDL entered the white pulp, not directly from the adjacent marginal zone but via distal periarterial lymphatic sheaths (dPALS). From dPALS, T cells migrated proximally along the central artery into proximal sheaths (pPALS) and exited the white pulp via deep lymphatic vessels. B cells left dPALS to enter lymphatic nodules (NOD), then also exited via deep lymphatics. T cells homed to lymph nodes more efficiently than B cells. Lymphocytes entered nodes via high-endothelial venules (HEV). CD4+ TDL reached higher absolute concentrations in diffuse cortex than did CD8+ T cells. However, CD8+ TDL moved more quickly through diffuse cortex than did CD4+ TDL. B cells migrated from HEV into NOD. Both T and B TDL exited via cortical and medullary sinuses and efferent lymphatics. A migration pathway across medullary cords is described. All TDL subsets homed equally well to Peyer's patches. T TDL migrated from HEV into paranodular zones while B cells moved from HEV into NOD. All TDL exited via lymphatics. Few TDL entered zones beneath dome epithelium. All subsets were observed within indentations in presumptive M cells of the dome epithelium.

Deep splenic lymphatic vessels in the mouse: a route of splenic exit for recirculating lymphocytes

A study of pathways of lymphocyte migration through mouse spleen revealed lymphatic channels closely following arteries in trabeculae and white pulp. Because there is no detailed record of the layout of deep splenic lymphatics in the mouse, or other species, we present our observations in this paper, relating our findings to normal migratory pathways of lymphocytes through the spleen. Lymphatics draining the spleen are so inconspicuous that they often are not mentioned in anatomical discussions. The data presented clearly demonstrate 1) the existence and layout of deep lymphatic vessels in the mouse spleen, and 2) that migrating lymphocytes exit white pulp via these lymphatic vessels. CD4+ and CD8+ T cell subsets migrated proximally along the central artery from distal (dPALS) to proximal periarterial lymphatic sheaths (pPALS) and exited via deep lymphatic vessels that originate there. B cells migrated from dPALS to enter lymphatic nodules (NOD), thus segregated from T cells. B cells then migrated toward and exited via deep lymphatics. The appearance of labelled lymphocytes in lymph coincided with their disappearance from white pulp compartments. Labelled T cells were observed in splenic lymphatics as early as 1 hr after intravenous infusion but took, on average, about 6 hr. B cells took somewhat longer. Thus T and B cells entered and left white pulp through shared pathways, but took divergent intermediate routes through dedicated zones, pPALS for T cells, NOD for B cells.

Separation of lymphocyte subpopulations using biotin-avidin erythrocyte rosettes

The major method for isolating murine lymphocyte subpopulations involves negative selection using antibody plus complement-mediated cytolysis. We have developed an efficient rosette method for enriching murine B and T cells using biotin-conjugated antibodies and avidin-coated sheep erythrocytes. Rosetted and non-rosetted subpopulations are separated rapidly on Percoll cushions. In systems employing rabbit anti-mouse immunoglobulin or monoclonal rat anti-mouse Thy-1.2 conjugated to biotin, positively-selected cells are greater than 90% pure while negatively-depleted populations possess less than 2% contamination with unwanted cells. Recoveries from starting spleen cell populations range between 50 and 75%. This method provides an easily performed alternative for obtaining positively and negatively selected cell populations and can be used with any biotin-conjugated antibody protein.