A general method for studying the secretion of macromolecules by single cells: II. A simplified procedure with enhanced sensitivity

A simple, sensitive precipitin-type single-cell secretion assay is described and applied to the study of immunoglobulin-secreting cells. Evidence is presented that its efficiency is comparable to that achieved with reverse hemolytic plaque techniques. Also described is a modification of the simplified procedure which possesses substantially increased sensitivity. Enhanced sensitivity is achieved through the use of monoclonal rheumatoid factors which preferentially react with rabbit or human immunoglobulins that are incorporated into immune complexes as a result of interaction with antigen. Addition of rheumatoid factor to the agarose-cell mixture leads to additional crosslinking of immune complexes that form around active cells, thereby increasing the probability of forming a detectable precipitate. The application of this procedure to the detection of cells producing T-cell products is also discussed.