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Plunge Freezing: A Tool for the Ultrastructural and Immunolocalization Studies of Suspension Cells in Transmission Electron Microscopy
Published on: May 5, 2017
A convenient and economical freezing procedure for mononuclear cells
J Vingerhoets1, G Vanham, L Kestens
1Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium.
Cryobiology
|February 1, 1995
Summary
A new cryocontainer offers a practical and economical method for freezing peripheral blood mononuclear cells, preserving lymphocyte function effectively for clinical studies.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
- Cryobiology
Background:
- Longitudinal evaluation of lymphocyte function is crucial in clinical research.
- Standard cryopreservation methods can be complex and costly.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce a convenient and economical cryopreservation method for peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).
- To assess the impact of this method on lymphocyte function compared to fresh cells and conventional techniques.
Main Methods:
- Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were frozen using a novel small cryocontainer.
- Lymphocyte function was analyzed by lymphoproliferation assays and cytotoxic capacity.
- Functionality was compared between fresh, frozen-thawed cells, and cells frozen with a computer-controlled device.
Main Results:
- Cryopreservation using the small cryocontainer demonstrated comparable performance to a computer-controlled freezing device.
- While cryopreservation impacted lymphocyte function, the method proved suitable for preserving cell viability and function for assays.
- The method is a practical and economical alternative for clinical studies.
Conclusions:
- The small cryocontainer is a suitable and practical tool for cryopreserving PBMCs in clinical settings.
- This method offers an economical alternative to conventional cryopreservation techniques.
- It supports reliable longitudinal evaluation of lymphocyte function.
