MHCI-peptide tetramer staining is an important technique in order to identify antigen-specific T cells within a heterogeneous cell population. The reagents may be used to isolate antigen-specific T cells and can help identify their role in disease. Here, we describe how to make tetramer from peptide:MHC monomers together with a protocol for staining antigen-specific cell populations with advice on generating a complementary antibody phenotyping panel.
Keywords: Antigen-specific; Flow cytometry; MHCI-peptide tetramer staining; T cell receptor.