Specific separation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes on immunoadsorptive films

A method for the specific separation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) on immunoadsorptive films is described. The films were prepared by polymerizing a mixture of gelatine and polyethyleneimine with glutaraldehyde on the bottom of plastic tissue culture flasks. By using an excess of glutaraldehyde unsaturated aldehyde groups on the film surface can react with other chemical groups predominantly with aliphatic amino groups. In this study detergent solubilized H-2 antigens were conjugated covalently to the films CTL, prepared by filtering spleen cells from alloimmunized mice through nylon wool columns, were incubated on immunoadsorptive films and the adsorbed cells were quantitatively recovered by mechanical detachment. The cells were functionally intact and tested in a microcytotoxicity assay using embryonic fibroblasts as target cells. Specificity adsorbed cells were enriched in specific cytotoxic cells up to 100 fold compared to the original fraction. Depending on the cell density per film area the non-adsorbed cells could be quantitatively depleted of CTL. The immunoadsorptive films are stabile at 37 degrees C and can be reused.