Detection of memory cells by chemical modification of the lymphocyte cell surface.

Stringent alloantigen requirements, necessary for the differentiation of human memory cells into specific secondary cytolytic T cells (2 degrees CTL), can be bypassed by chemical modification of memory cells with the mitogenic oxidising agent, galactose oxidase. Treatment of memory cells generated in a long-term primary mixed lymphocyte culture with neuraminidase and galactose oxidase (NAGO) results in the differentiation of memory cells into 2 degrees CTL. In contrast, treatment of unprimed cells with NAGO does not result in CTL production despite the proliferation resulting from such treatment.