Separation buffer

1× PBS (pH 7.2), 0.5% BSA, 2 mM EDTA
or
6× 1.5 L autoMACS® Running Buffer – MACS®  Separation Buffer

Suppression medium

The suppression medium can be stored for up to 7 days under sterile conditions at 4 °C.

500 mL TexMACS™ Medium
+ 5% human AB serum
+ 1% PenStrep

Notes:

• When working with anticoagulated peripheral blood or buffy coat, PBMCs should be isolated by density gradient centrifugation, for example, using Ficoll-Paque™ according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Collect a sample of PBMCs for subsequent flow cytometry analysis. See "Flow cytometry analysis".
  

Note:

• All steps described below for the magnetic labeling and depletion of non-CD4⁺ cells, as well as the labeling and selection of CD25⁺ cells, are performed using the CD4⁺CD25⁺ Regulatory T Cell Isolation Kit, human.
• Treg and Tresp cells are simultaneously isolated with the CD4⁺ CD25⁺ Regulatory T Cell Isolation Kit, human, from one blood sample. The Treg cells (CD4⁺ CD25⁺) are the final positive fraction and the Tresp cells (CD4⁺ CD25^–) are the final negative fraction.
• Volumes for magnetic labeling given below are for up to 1×10⁷ total cells. When working with fewer than 1×10⁷ cells, use the same volumes as indicated. When working with higher cell numbers, scale up all reagent volumes and total volumes accordingly (e.g., for 2×10⁷ total cells, use twice the volume of all indicated reagent volumes and total volumes).
  

1. Determine cell number.
2. Centrifuge cell suspension at 300×g for 10 minutes. Discard supernatant.
3. Resuspend cell pellet in 90 μL of separation buffer per 1×10⁷ total cells.
4. Add 10 μL of CD4⁺ T Cell Biotin-Antibody Cocktail per 1×10⁷ total cells.
5. Mix well and incubate for 5 minutes in the refrigerator (2–8 °C).
6. Add 20 μL of Anti-Biotin MicroBeads per 1×10⁷ total cells.
7. Mix well and incubate for 10 minutes in the refrigerator (2–8 °C).
8. Adjust the volume to 500 μL with separation buffer.
   ▲ Note: Resuspend up to 1×10⁸ cells in 500 μL of separation buffer. For higher cell numbers, scale up buffer volume accordingly.  

Notes:

• The first step of Treg cell isolation is a depletion of non-CD4⁺ cells. Here, an LD Column is used, which has a capacity of  1×10⁸ labeled cells and 5×10⁸ total cells.
• When using the CD4⁺CD25⁺ Regulatory T cell Isolation Kit, human, we do not recommend to process more than 1.3×10⁸ total cells on an LD Column. When exceeding this cell number, it is strongly recommended to split the sample and use additional LD Columns.
  

1. Place LD Column(s) in the magnetic field of a MidiMACS™ Separator.
2. Prepare column by rinsing with 2 mL of separation buffer. Always wait until the column reservoir is empty before proceeding to the next step.
3. Apply cell suspension onto the column.
4. Collect unlabeled cells that pass through and wash column twice with 1 mL of separation buffer each. Collect total effluent; this is the unlabeled pre-enriched CD4⁺ cell fraction which is needed for further Treg and Tresp cell isolation.
5. Determine cell number. 
   

Note:

• Volumes for magnetic labeling given below are for an initial starting cell number of up to 1×10⁷ total cells. For higher initial cell numbers, scale up all volumes accordingly.

1. Centrifuge cell suspension at 300×g for 10 minutes. Discard supernatant. 
2. Resuspend cell pellet in 90 μL of separation buffer per 1×10⁷ total cells.
3. Add 10 μL of CD25 MicroBeads II per 1×10⁷ total cells.
4. Mix well and incubate for 15 minutes in the refrigerator (2–8 °C).
5. Wash cells by adding 1–2 mL of separation buffer and centrifuge at 300×g for 10 minutes. Discard supernatant.
6. Resuspend up to 1×10⁸ cells in 500 μL of separation buffer.
   ▲ Note: For higher cell numbers, scale up buffer volume accordingly.
   

Note:

• The second step during Treg and Tresp cell isolation is positive selection of CD25⁺ cells. Here, two  consecutive MS Columns are used, with a capacity of 1×10⁷ labeled cells. To not exceed the capacity, it is recommended to determine the frequency of CD25⁺ cells in your cell suspension by flow cytometry beforehand.
• To assess the purity of the isolated Treg and Tresp cells, a flow cytometry analysis must be performed. Please refer to"Surface immunofluorescent staining of Treg and Tresp cells and flow cytometry analysis" for a detailed protocol. 
  

1. Place an MS Column in the magnetic field of a MiniMACS™ Separator.
2. Prepare column by rinsing with 500 μL of separation buffer.
3. Apply cell suspension onto the column. Collect flow-through containing unlabeled Tresp cells (CD4⁺CD25^–). 
4. Wash column 3 times with 500 μL of separation buffer each. Collect unlabeled cells that pass through and combine with the effluent from step 3.
5. Remove column from the separator and place it on a suitable collection tube.
6. Pipette 1 mL of separation buffer onto the column. Immediately flush out magnetically labeled cells by firmly pushing the plunger into the column.
7. To increase purity of CD4⁺CD25⁺ cells, the eluted fraction can be enriched over a second MS Column (recommended). Repeat the magnetic separation procedure described in steps 1 to 6 using a new MS Column. The isolated Treg and Tresp cells are now ready-to-use for in vitro suppression assay. 
   

Notes:

• To determine the purity of the isolated Treg and Tresp cells, perform the flow cytometry analysis for the final positive (Treg cells) and negative fraction (Tresp cells). It is also recommended to analyze the starting fraction (collect a sample after "Isolation of PBMCs").
• Volumes given below are for up to 1×10⁷ cells. When working with fewer cells, use the same volumes as indicated. When working with higher cell numbers, scale up all reagent volumes and total volumes, accordingly (e.g., for 2×10⁷ nucleated cells, use twice the volume of all indicated reagent volumes and total volumes).  
  

1. Determine cell number.
2. Centrifuge cell suspension at 300×g for 10 minutes. Discard supernatant.
3. Resuspend up to 1×10⁷ nucleated cells per 70 μL of separation buffer.
4. Add 10 μL of CD4-VioBlue® and 20 μL of CD25-PE.
5. Mix well and incubate for 10 minutes in the dark in the refrigerator (2–8 °C).
6. Wash cells by adding 1–2 mL of separation buffer per 1×10⁷ cells and centrifuge at 300×g for 10 minutes at 4 °C. Discard supernatant.
7. Resuspend cell pellet in a suitable amount of buffer for analysis by flow cytometry.
   

Note:

• To assess the purity of the isolated Treg and Tresp cells, cells are analyzed by flow cytometry. The analysis should be performed with the cell sample taken in "Isolation of PBMCs" and the cell samples taken in "Magnetic separation of CD25⁺ cells". 
  

1. Identify lymphocytes according to forward scatter (FSC) and sideward scatter (SSC, data not shown).
2. Exclude dead cells from the analysis by using a live/dead cell exclusion marker (e.g., PI) (data not shown).
3. Analyze the lymphocytes further for their expression of CD4 (x-axis) and CD25 (y-axis) to assess the frequency of CD4⁺CD25⁺ Treg cells and of CD4⁺CD25^- Tresp cells in the starting fraction (A in figure below),  as well as in the isolated fractions (B in figure below). 
   

Note:

• In this protocol one MACSiBead™ Particle per cell (bead-to-cell ratio 1:1) is used for stimulation.
• For in vitro suppression, Treg cells, Tresp cells, and the Treg Suppression Inspector (amount of MACSiBead  Particles) are co-cultured in different ratios as depicted in the table below in a 96-well flat-bottom plate. To improve the final flow cytometry resolution, the cell numbers can be scaled up accordingly (i.e., 2×10⁵ Tresp cells per well, upscaling of Treg cells and MACSiBead Particles accordingly). 
  

Note:

• To monitor the proliferation of Tresp cells during the in vitro suppression assay, the cells have to be stained with a fluorescent dye, which allows tracking of cell division, e.g.,  by using the CellTrace™ Violet Cell Proliferation Kit. For more information please refer to the manufacturer's instruction. It is also possible to use the CSFE-method or the 3^H-thymidine incorporation method with this in vitro suppression assay protocol. Data shown in this application protocol were acquired with the CellTrace Violet Cell Proliferation Kit.
  

1. Determine the total number of Treg cells and Tresp cells. For one assay, as outlined in the table in "General information", 9×10⁵ Tresp cells and 6×10⁵ Tregs are needed (if suppression assay is performed with higher cell numbers, scale up the number of cells accordingly).
2. Transfer required cell numbers of cell suspension to suitable tubes.
3. Add 5–10 volumes suppression medium to the cells and centrifuge at 300×g for 10 minutes. Aspirate supernatant completely.
4. Resuspend the Tresp cells (9×10⁵) in 1800 μL and the Treg cells (6×10⁵) in 1200 μL of suppression medium.
   ▲ Note: The concentration in both cell suspensions is now 5×10⁵ cells/mL.
5. Pipette the appropriate volumes of Treg and Tresp cell suspension in a 96-well flat-bottom plate. Refer to the table in "Preparation of Treg Suppression Inspector, human" for the respective volumes. 
   

Note:

• MACSiBead Particles are bigger in size than MicroBeads and sediment rapidly. It is therefore mandatory to bring the MACSiBead Particles in suspension by vortexing prior to use.

1. Resuspend Treg Suppression Inspector thoroughly by vortexing and transfer 60 μL to a suitable tube.
   ▲ Note: Concentration of Treg Suppression Inspector is 2×10⁷ MACSiBead Particles per mL.
2. Add 300–600 µL of suppression medium and centrifuge at 300×g for 5 minutes. Aspirate supernatant completely.
3. Resuspend Treg Suppression Inspector in 120 μL of suppression medium. The reagent is now ready to use.
   ▲ Note: Concentration of prepared Treg Suppression Inspector is now 1×10⁷ MACSiBead Particles per mL.
4. Pipette the appropriate volumes of Treg Suppression Inspector (amount of MACSiBead Particles) to the Treg/Tresp co-cultured cells into the 96-well flat-bottom plate. Refer to the table below for the respective volumes.
5. Fill up wells to a total volume of 210 µL with suppression medium (see table below).
   

Incubate the suppression assay at 37 °C and 5–7% CO₂ for 5 days.

▲ Note: If a proliferation dye (e.g. CellTrace or CFSE) was used, refer to "Flow cytometry analysis" for detailed description of final flow cytometry analysis.

▲ Note: If 3^H-thymidine was used: after 4 days add the appropriate volume of 3^H-thymidine to each well and incubate at 37 °C and 5–7% CO₂ for 16 hours. Measure 3^H-thymidine incorporation, e.g., by using a liquid scintillation counter. 

1. Harvest the cells by transferring the cell suspension of each well into a separate 5 mL tube.
2. Wash cells by adding 1–2 mL of separation buffer for up to 1×10⁷ cells and centrifuge at 300×g for 10 minutes at 4 °C. Discard supernatant.
3. Resuspend cells in 90 μL of separation buffer.
4. Add 10 μL of CD4-VioBlue® and 20 μL of CD25-PE.
5. Mix well and incubate for 10 minutes in the dark in the refrigerator (2–8 °C).
6. Wash cells by adding 1–2 mL of separation buffer per 1×10⁷ cells and centrifuge at 300×g for 10 minutes at 4 °C. Discard supernatant.
7. Resuspend cell pellet in a suitable amount of separation buffer for analysis by flow cytometry. 

1. Identify lymphocytes according to FSC and SSC.
2. Exclude dead cells from the analysis by using a live/dead cell exclusion marker (e.g., PI).
3. Gate CD4 cells according to CD4 (y-axis) and FSC (x-axis).
4.  CD4⁺CD25⁺ Treg cells can be distinguished from the CD4⁺CD25^– Tresp cells according to CD25 (y-axis) and CellTrace™ (x-axis) (see A in figure below). Gate the CellTrace-positive cells for further cell proliferation analysis (see A in figure below, red gate).
5. Apply the gating strategy to all samples. Analyze the frequency of proliferating cells using a histogram plot (fluorescence intensity of the CellTrace on the x-axis; see B in figure below) and by determining CellTrace dilution (see B in figure below, red bar).
   

The data obtained by flow cytometry analysis can be summarized in a graphic as depicted in the figure below.

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