Monitoring antigen-specific T cells using MHC-Ig dimers

Curr Protoc Immunol. 2001 May:Chapter 17:Unit 17.2. doi: 10.1002/0471142735.im1702s35.

Abstract

The lack of high affinity reagents has made distinguishing T cells on the basis of antigen specificity difficult to accomplish. This unit provides protocols that utilize innovations in molecular design to permit construction of soluble multivalent MHC complexes (MHC-Ig dimers) with high avidity for cognate T cell receptors. MHC-Ig dimers display stable binding properties when they interact with antigen-specific T cells thus allowing their use in the staining of antigen-specific T cells by flow cytometry. Methods for constructing and detecting these MHC-Ig dimers are included along with protocols for applying their use for the quantitation of antigen-specific T cells.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens / immunology*
  • Antigens, Surface / immunology
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • DNA, Complementary / genetics
  • DNA, Complementary / immunology
  • Dimerization
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / methods
  • Flow Cytometry / methods
  • Genetic Vectors / genetics
  • Genetic Vectors / immunology
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / genetics
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / immunology*
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / genetics
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulins / genetics
  • Immunoglobulins / immunology*
  • Immunoglobulins / isolation & purification
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / immunology
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / immunology

Substances

  • Antigens
  • Antigens, Surface
  • DNA, Complementary
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class II
  • Immunoglobulins
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins