Isolation of human T lymphocytes: comparison between nylon wool filtration and rosetting with neuraminidase (VCN) and 2-aminoethylisothiouronium bromide (AET)-treated sheep red blood cells (SRBC).

Isolation of human T lymphocytes by rosetting with SRBC, centrifugation on Ficoll-Hypaque gradients and lysis of SRBC, which reportedly affects the functional activities of lymphocytes, was compared to isolation of T lymphocytes by filtration through a nylon wool column. The two methods were similar in yields and purity of T lymphocytes. No selective loss of T cell subpopulations was found in T lymphocytes isolated by filtration through a nylon wool column as judged by the percentage of T gamma and T micron and the suppressor and helper activity in functional assays. Therefore, filtration through a nylon wool column is a useful method to purify T lymphocytes and has the advantage of being comparatively simple and quick to perform and of avoiding manipulations which may affect the functional activity of T lymphocytes.