A simple new method for using antigens separated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis to stimulate lymphocytes in vitro after converting bands cut from Western blots into antigen-bearing particles.

The individual antigenic components present in microgram quantities of complex mixtures can be separated reproducibly by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and transferred onto nitrocellulose blots. We report that the ng quantities of antigen present in single lines cut from such Western blots can be used to induce maximal lymphoproliferative responses in 30-60 microtitre wells. In order to achieve this the excised lines of antigen-bearing nitrocellulose sheet must be converted into antigen-bearing particles small enough to be engulfed by macrophages. We describe optimal conditions and discuss the applications of this technique.