Description

About the BALB/c Mouse

The BALB/c mouse is a commonly-used inbred mouse strain for the study of autoimmune diseases and pathogen-driven immune response. They carry the H-2^d haplotype and their immune cells are routinely used in immune-based assays. Based on early studies, the BALB/c mouse is biased towards a Th2 antibody-mediated immune response when challenged appropriately. Thus, the BALB/c mouse is well-studied in the field of immunology and their cells (like BALB/c mouse splenocytes) may offer experimental advantages depending on the parameters of your experiments.

Application Summary for BALB/c Mouse T Cell-depleted Irradiated Splenocytes

Irradiated mouse splenocytes depleted of T cells can be used as antigen presenting cells, stimulation/feeder cells or target cells in a wide variety of immunology-based applications. Unlike unirradiated cells, these cells will not divide or respond to stimulus. However, the antigen presenting cells found in the splenic population, such as dendritic cells, macrophages, and B cells, can present antigenic peptide to stimulate exogenously added CD4 and CD8 T cells, such as those from T cell receptor (TCR) transgenic mice whose T cells bear only one TCR of known specificity. In these types of co-culture studies that require antigen presentation, peptide is added to the irradiated cells, which present the peptide to activate the T cells to produce cytokine, proliferate, and perform cytotoxicity on the irradiated cells.

Irradiated splenocytes can also be used as stimulator cells in mixed lymphocyte reactions (MLR). In these type of experiments, the irradiated cells and exogenously added effector cells, which are typically T cells, are of different genetic backgrounds, in particular, they are of different MHC haplotypes. The effector cells will respond to the difference in the MHC haplotype and begin to produce cytokines, proliferate, and perform cytotoxicity.

In some cases, these experiments will require irradiated cells that do have not have contaminating T cells that may interfere with the procedure and/or readout. Therefore, iQ offers a line of irradiated of splenocytes in which the T cells have been removed to prevent any of those issues.

Isolation of T Cell-depleted Splenocytes

Spleen Collection, Splenocyte Isolation, and T Cell Depletion

Spleens are isolated responsibly from BALB/c mice at third party facilities. These facilities are vetted to ensure they operate according to local regulations and laws. Since the facility is local, the tissue is quickly transported to iQ’s facility for processing.

Once at our facility, the splenic tissue is carefully dissociated through a gentle mechanical process to generate a single cell suspension under sterile conditions. The suspension is then carefully passed through a filter to remove any fat and/or connective tissue and subsequently depleted of red blood cells in a manner that is not damaging to splenic cells.

To remove T cells, splenocytes underwent magnetic isolation that separated T cells from the rest of the splenic populations. Post-isolation analysis by flow cytometry showed <10% T cell contamination, demonstrating an enriched splenic sample lacking T cells.

Irradiation of Splenocytes

After obtaining T cell-depleted splenocytes, the cells are irradiated using X-ray radiation at a dosage that stops cell division, but permits retention of cellular processes, including antigen processing and presentation. The irradiation is performed at a world class institution that abides by state and federal regulations regarding radioactive usage.

Cryopreservation and Storage

Our BALB/c mouse T cell-depleted irradiated splenocytes are cryopreserved carefully using iQ Biosciences’ cryopreservation protocol that ensures high viability (typically > 70%) after thawing.

Cells should be stored at < -120°C once they are received, such as within a liquid nitrogen tank (vapor phase).