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Isolation and Activation of Murine Lymphocytes
08:08

Isolation and Activation of Murine Lymphocytes

Published on: October 30, 2016

Early events in B lymphocyte activation

Subbarao Bondada1, Amy Troyer, Ralph L Chelvarajan

  • 1University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.

Current Protocols in Immunology
|April 25, 2008
PubMed

Insights

This study details direct methods for quantifying early B cell activation by measuring intracellular calcium, cell size, and MHC class II expression. These activation-specific assays offer insights into cellular events independent of antibody production.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Cell Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • B cell activation is crucial for adaptive immunity.
  • Traditional methods assess antibody production, an indirect measure.
  • Direct cellular changes offer immediate insights into activation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide direct methods for quantifying early B cell activation.
  • To measure cellular parameters independent of antibody secretion.
  • To offer protocols applicable to various species and T cells.

Main Methods:

  • Quantifying increases in intracellular ionized calcium concentration ([Ca2+]I).
  • Measuring changes in cell size.
  • Assessing Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) class II-antigen expression.

Main Results:

  • Established protocols for direct measurement of early B cell activation markers.
  • Demonstrated applicability to murine and other species' B cells.
  • Showed method's utility for T cells as well.

Conclusions:

  • Direct assays provide valuable, activation-specific information.
  • These methods bypass the need for antibody detection.
  • The protocols are versatile for broader immunological research.

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