A detailed Magnetic Labeling and Separation Protocol follows. In brief, cells are labeled with a rat Ig κ antibody that recognizes the subpopulation of interest. After washing away excess antibody, BD IMag™ Anti-Rat Ig, κ Light Chain Particles - DM are added to the cell suspension and bind the rat Ig antibody on the cells. The tube containing this labeled cell suspension is then placed within the magnetic field of the Cell Separation Magnet. Positive selection or depletion is then performed. Labeled cells migrate toward the magnet (positive fraction), leaving the unlabeled cells in suspension so they can be drawn off (depleted or negative fraction). The tube is then removed from the magnetic field for resuspension of the positive fraction. The selections are repeated twice to increase the purity of the positive fraction and the yield of the depleted fraction. The magnetic separation steps are diagrammed in the accompanying depletion and positive selection flow charts. The small size of the BD IMag™ particles allows the positive fraction to be further evaluated in downstream applications such as flow cytometry.

MAGNETIC LABELING AND SEPARATION PROTOCOL

1. Prepare buffers and place on ice.

a. Cell-staining buffer: Phosphate Buffered Saline, 3% heat inactivated fetal calf serum, 0.1% sodium azide.

b. 1X BD IMag™ buffer: Dilute BD IMag™ Buffer (10X) (Cat. No. 552362) 1:10 with sterile distilled water or prepare Phosphate Buffered Saline, supplemented with 0.5% BSA, 2 mM EDTA, and 0.1% sodium azide.*

2. Aseptically prepare a single-cell suspension from the lymphoid tissue of interest or prepare PBMC from anti-coagulated blood, preferably by density gradient centrifugation using the appropriate density Ficoll-Paque solution. Remove clumps of cells and/or debris by passing the suspended cells through a 70-µm nylon cell strainer.

3. Count the cells, and resuspend them in cell-staining buffer at a concentration of 2 x 10e7 cells/ml.

4. Add the rat Ig antibody (or cocktail of rat Ig κ antibodies) at the appropriate concentration, and incubate on ice for 15 minutes.**

5. Wash the labeled cells with an excess volume of 1X BD IMag™ buffer, and carefully aspirate ALL the supernatant. For depletions, proceed with Step 6. For positive selections, proceed with Step 17.

Depletions:

6. Vortex the BD IMag™ Anti-Rat Ig, κ Light Chain Particles - DM thoroughly, and add 50 µl of particles for every 1 x 10e7 total cells.

7. MIX THOROUGHLY. Refrigerate for 30 minutes at 6°C - 12°C.**

8. Bring the labeling volume up to a concentration of 2 to 8 x 10e7 cells/ml with 1X BD IMag™ buffer or culture medium.*

9. Transfer the labeled cells to a 12 x 75 mm round-bottom test tube, maximum volume added not to exceed 1.0 ml. Place this positive-fraction tube on the Cell Separation Magnet (horizontal position) for 6 to 8 minutes.

· For greater volume, transfer the cells to a 17 x 100 mm round-bottom test tube, maximum volume added not to exceed 3.0 ml. Place this positive-fraction tube on the Cell Separation Magnet (vertical position) for 8 minutes.

10. With the tube on the Cell Separation Magnet and using a glass Pasteur pipette, carefully aspirate the supernatant (depleted fraction) and place in a new tube.

11. Remove the positive-fraction tube from the Cell Separation Magnet, and add 1X BD IMag™ buffer (or medium) to the same volume as in Step 9. Resuspend the positive fraction well by pipetting up and down 10 to 15 times and place back on the Cell Separation Magnet for 6 to 8 minuets.

· 17 x 100 mm tube: Place on the Cell Separation Magnet for 8 minutes.

12. Using a new Pasteur pipette, carefully aspirate the supernatant and combine with the depleted fraction from Step 11 above.

13. Repeat Steps 11 and 12. The combined depleted fraction contains cells with no bound antibodies or magnetic particles. These cells are ready for downstream applications, or they can be further enriched by proceeding Step 15.

14. The positive-fraction cells remaining in the original tube can be resuspended in an appropriate buffer or culture medium for downstream applications, including flow cytometry.

15. To increase the purity of the combined depleted fraction, place the tube on the Cell Separation Magnet for another 6 to 8 minutes.

· 17 x 100 mm tube: Place on the Cell Separation Magnet for 8 minutes.

16. Carefully aspirate the supernatant and place in a new tube. This is the final depleted fraction. The cells are ready to be processed for downstream applications.

Positive Selections:

17. Vortex the BD IMag™ Anti-Rat Ig, κ Light Chain Particles - DM thoroughly, and add 10 to 50 µl of particles for every 1 x 10e7 total cells. The amount of particles to add will vary depending on how many cells one is targeting and the cell-surface density of the antigen. Please refer to the table below for some common examples.

18. MIX THOROUGHLY. Refrigerate for 30 minutes at 6°C - 12°C.

19. Bring the labeling volume up to 2 to 8 x 10e7 cells/ml with 1X BD IMag™ buffer.

20. Immediately place the tube onto the Cell Separation Magnet and incubate for 6 to 8 minutes.

21. With the tube on the Cell Separation Magnet, carefully aspirate the supernatant. This supernatant is considered the negative fraction.

22. Remove the tube from the Cell Separation Magnet, and add 1X BD IMag™ buffer to the same volume as in Step 19. Gently resuspend the cells by pipetting up and down, and return the tube to the Cell Separation Magnet for another 2 to 4 minutes.

23. With the tube on the Cell Separation Magnet, carefully remove the supernatant.

24. Repeat Steps 22 and 23.

25. After the final wash step, remove the tube from the Cell Separation Magnet. Resuspend the positive fraction in an appropriate buffer or culture medium, and proceed with desired downstream application(s), including flow cytometry.

NOTES:

* For depletion of mouse leukocytes, tissue culture medium usually results in a slight increase in viability and recovery, when compared to IMag buffer, without reducing cell purity. We recommend that researchers run a trial comparison of media to buffer to make sure that there are no adverse effects.

** Avoid non-specific labeling by working quickly and adhering to recommended incubation times.