Human transfer factor prepared by dialysis, ultrafiltration and gel chromatography: biological activity in local transfer of skin sensitivity.

Abstract Human transfer factor (TF) was prepared by a variety of methods including dialysis using cellophane tubing, ultrafiltration through a membrane of known pore size, Sephadex G-25 chromatography or combinations of some of these methods. In general the various preparations when injected locally into human skin gave greater delayed-type responses than antigen (PPD or Candida) alone. The combination of either vacuum dialysis, or ultrafiltration, with G-25 chromatography gave as good or better TF activity when compared with unchromatographed materials. Since ultrafiltration and concentration is a rapid procedure and eliminates the need for freeze-drying, in contrast to vacuum dialysis against water, these results indicate that ultrafiltration and G-25 chromatography provide a convenient method for preparing large batches of relatively pure TF from leucocyte extracts.