The Separation of Immunocyte Subpopulations by Use of Various Lectins

Recent development in immunology has revealed that immune responses can develop only after complicated cell-cell interactions between various subpopulations of immune-competent cells. Elucidation of the molecular mechanisms of these cell-cell interactions requires the separation of these cell subpopulations, and precise knowledge on their biological characteristics and on the factors secreted by them which mediate the cell-cell interactions. Furthermore, for the treatment of diseases which are caused by or at least related to a functional abnormality of certain subpopulation of immunocytes, adoptive transfer of the cell subpopulation in question may be effective.