Binding of ovalbumin to mouse spleen cells with and without carbodiimide

We studied the binding of ovalbumin (OVA) to mouse spleen cells. In the presence or absence of carbodiimide (ECDI), uptake increased with greater cell numbers, increasing OVA concentration and increasing time up to 60 min. Between 60 and 210 microgram OVA could be coupled with ECDI to 2 X 10(8) cells. In the absence of ECDI, however, OVA uptake was still appreciable, but appeared to be of low avidity as it did not occur in the presence of competing fetal calf serum. These experiments provide a basis for the use of protein coupled to autologous cells in the induction of immunologic tolerance.