title: Demonstration that antigen-binding cells are precursors of antibody-producing cells after purification with a fluorescence-activated cell sorter.
abstract: We have obtained viable and functional populations of antigen-binding cells enriched up to 500-fold from primed spleen-cell suspensions by fluorescent labeling and by a new electronic cell sorter that sorts viable cells according to fluorescence. Concomitantly, populations largely depleted of antigen-binding cells were obtained. While neither population alone is capable of a full adoptive secondary response when injected into irradiated recipients, a reconstituted mixture restores the full response of the unfractionated spleen cells. Admixture of sources of unprimed thymus-derived cells (T-cells) with the purified antigen-binding cells (B-cells) restores much of the full response.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D000921:Antibody-Producing Cells; D000941:Antigens; D001665:Binding Sites; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006041:Goats / Q000276:immunology; D006433:Hemocyanins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D007456:Iodine Isotopes; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D011485:Protein Binding; D011817:Rabbits / Q000276:immunology; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000378:metabolism; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005719:gamma-Globulins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens; D007456:Iodine Isotopes; D012709:Serum Albumin; D005719:gamma-Globulins; D006433:Hemocyanins