To investigate the mechanisms involved in lymphocyte adsorption on poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate)-graft-polyamine copolymer, which is utilized as an adsorbent for cell separation, the role of cellular metabolism in lymphocyte adsorption on these copolymers was evaluated. We examined the effect of lowering environmental temperature and of the drug cytochalasin B that inhibits reorganization of microfilaments in cellular cytoskeletons on lymphocyte adsorption. Although the adsorption of lymphocytes on poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) was considerably reduced in the presence of cytochalasin B or by lowering temperature, no marked influence of these factors was observed for lymphocyte adsorption on poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate)-graft-polyamine copolymers. These results suggest that, in contrast to common plastics surfaces including poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate), the surface of poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate)-graft-polyamine copolymers does not stimulate or activate adsorbed lymphocytes.