Isolation of CD4+ T cells from Mouse Lymph Nodes Using Miltenyi MACS Purification
Negative Selection Preparation of CD4 Positive T Cells
Introduction to Magnetic Separation Techniques
- Melanie Matthew introduces the Max Mini magnet and its application in cell separation, specifically for CD4 positive T cells using military biotechnology kits.
- The Midi Max is designed for larger separations, capable of processing up to 10^9 cells, while the Mini Max is suited for smaller volumes.
Cell Preparation Process
- In negative selection, the target cells pass through a column while unwanted cells are retained; the elutant contains the desired cells.
- Emphasis on maintaining sterility during procedures if cells are intended for culture; techniques shown can be adapted for various cell types.
Lymph Node Processing
- Lymph nodes from a mouse are ground into a single-cell suspension using a 70-micron cell strainer to ensure no clumps remain.
- After grinding, cloudy media indicates successful extraction of lymphocytes; washing with media helps maximize yield by removing stuck cells.
Cell Pelleting and Red Blood Cell Lysis
- The pelleted single-cell suspension is prepared by centrifugation at 300g for 10 minutes; consideration of dead cell populations may require additional removal steps.
- RBC lysis involves adjusting osmolarity carefully to avoid lysing lymphocytes; quick addition of solutions is crucial.
Final Steps in Negative Selection
- Post-RBC lysis, counting lymphocytes on a hemocytometer determines antibody requirements for negative selection.
- Initial incubation with biotin and antibody cocktail precedes adding antibiotin microbeads before proceeding with magnetic separation using an LS column.
Cell Separation Process Using Magnetic Beads
Preparation and Initial Steps
- The process begins with the use of a column where liquid is allowed to drip out. It's noted that surface tension will prevent the column from running dry until cells are added.
- After a 15-minute incubation with antibiotin magnetic beads, the cells and Max buffer are spun down. The buffer is then poured off, and cells are resuspended in an appropriate volume based on cell count as per the melatonin protocol.
Cell Application and Collection
- The cell suspension is applied to the rinsed column. This setup is for negative selection, meaning that CD4 positive T cells will flow through while other cells are retained.
- Following application, the column is washed with 12 mL of Max buffer to collect only CD4 positive T cells in the elution.
Verification of Purity
- After spinning down the collected CD4 positive T cells, they are resuspended and labeled with a dye suitable for two-photon imaging.
- A small sample of purified cells is also labeled with anti-CD3 and anti-CD4 antibodies for flow cytometry (FACS), ensuring a clean population of CD4 positive T cells has been obtained.