Abstract
We have recently described a highly sensitive flow cytometric technique, based on the ability to detect single cell expression of cytokines, to simultaneously quantitate and phenotypically characterize antigen-specific memory/effector T cells in PBMC cultures. In this report, we describe a simplified procedural modification which enables the rapid detection of low frequency memory CD4+ and CD8+ T cells expressing cytokines in response to soluble antigen in whole blood. When compared with T cell responses in PBMC cultures, whole blood cultures demonstrated similar but slightly higher percentages of T cells responsive to specific antigen. In addition, T cell responses to cytomegalovirus in whole blood were observed only in sensitized (seropositive) individuals, and CD4 + T cell responses could be blocked by anti-class II MHC antibodies. This procedure may provide a means to examine direct effects of pharmacological drug concentrations on T cell immunity in clinical samples.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 89-98 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Journal of Immunological Methods |
Volume | 212 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Mar 1 1998 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Antigen-specific activation
- Cytokine production
- Cytomegalovirus
- Flow cytometry
- Whole blood activation assay
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Immunology and Allergy
- Immunology