Extraction of Tissue Antigens for Functional Assays

The overall goal of this procedure is to prepare a tissue extract that is compatible with functional immunological assays. This is accomplished by first collecting a sample of the tissue of interest. Next, homogenize the tissue sample in a mixture of butanol, aceto, nitrile and water, or BAW.

After determining protein concentration, the extract is allotted and lyophilized to remove solvents. Ultimately, the reconstituted extract is used as a source of antigen in human T-cell proliferation or cytokine secretion assays. The main advantage of this technique over existing methods like detergent lysis, is that deserting extract is free of toxic solvents and detergents.