title: Isolation of human B cell populations.
abstract: To study the function and biology of human B cells, it is necessary to isolate pure populations. Historically, B cells were enriched by the sequential depletion of monocytes, natural killer cells, and T cells. However, this time-consuming process has been superseded by sorting methods using specific antibodies, targeting, in negative-selection strategies, unwanted cell types, or, in positive-selection strategies, B cell markers such as CD19. Here we describe in detail four methods for isolating B cells from human blood or mononuclear cells, and discuss how these techniques can be combined with fluorescent cell sorting for the characterization of specific B cell populations.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Dermatologie, Venerologie und Allergologie, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Heine
authors.forename: Gary P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Sims
authors.forename: Margitta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Worm
authors.forename: Peter E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Lipsky
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Radbruch
mesh_terms: D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D003584:Cytological Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans