Cortisol-free transcortin: preparation and effect on mitogen-stimulated lymphocytes

Human cortisol-free transcortin was prepared from charcoal-treated serum. The major purification was achieved by affinity chromatography on an immunoadsorbent column of transcortin antibodies coupled to Sepharose 4B. A further purification on hydroxylapatite yielded pure transcortin with preserved steroid-binding activity. This preparation had no significant influence on the proliferation of human lymphocytes stimulated with phytohemagglutinin, nor did it increase the inhibition of lymphocyte proliferation by cortisol or dexamethasone.