Use of cell-tracking dyes to determine proliferation precursor frequencies of antigen-specific T cells

AL Givan, JL Fisher, MG Waugh, N Bercovici… - Flow Cytometry …, 2004 - Springer
AL Givan, JL Fisher, MG Waugh, N Bercovici, PK Wallace
Flow Cytometry Protocols, 2004Springer
The T-cell receptor provides T cells with specificity for antigens of particular molecular
structure (the “epitope”); the T-cell pool in an individual responds to the presence of many
different antigenic epitopes, but any particular T cell will respond preferentially to one
defined epitope. After stimulation of a T cell by the binding of its receptor to its cognate
antigen in the context of a major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecule on an antigen-
presenting cell, the T cell will begin to proliferate and synthesize cytokines. Tetramer binding …
Abstract
The T-cell receptor provides T cells with specificity for antigens of particular molecular structure (the “epitope”); the T-cell pool in an individual responds to the presence of many different antigenic epitopes, but any particular T cell will respond preferentially to one defined epitope. After stimulation of a T cell by the binding of its receptor to its cognate antigen in the context of a major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecule on an antigen-presenting cell, the T cell will begin to proliferate and synthesize cytokines. Tetramer binding and the enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) method have been used to determine what proportion of cells in the T-cell pool can bind to a defined antigenic peptide or will secrete cytokines in response to a particular antigenic stimulation. The method described here uses tracking dyes to determine what proportion of T cells will proliferate in response to stimulation. As a flow cytometric “single-cell” method, it can be combined with tetramer and cytokine staining to determine the precursor frequencies of cells in the T-cell pool able to bind tetramer, to synthesize cytokines, and to proliferate in response to antigen.
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