Electrophoretic mobility of human lymphocytes purified by nylon wool columns and spontaneous sheep red blood cells...

Cell electrophoresis allows separation of normal human lymphocytes into two principal groups which are a function of their relative rates of migration. In 42 healthy adults, 19.9% of the lymphocytes have a slower migration rate, and 80.1%, a faster migration rate than the reference speed (1 mum - sec-1 - cm). Two methods are used for the selection of the lymphocytic populations: spontaneous rosetting with sheeps red blood cells, a property of T-lymphocytes, and adherence to nylon wool columns, which preferentially selects B-lymphocytes. The cells which do not form spontaneous rosettes, but adhere to nylon wool columns show mainly slow migration. Cells which do not adhere to nylon columns show a faster migration rate. These findings affirm the T-nature of the rapidly migrating lymphocytes, and the B-nature of the slow-migrating lymphocytes. Results by the immunofluorescence technique confirm this.