MHC BRIDGING SYSTEM FOR DETECTING CTL-MEDIATED LYSIS OF ANTIGEN PRESENTING CELLS

摘要

A bridging assay that utilizes a multivalent MHC binding molecule to enumerate the number of antigen-specific CTLs in a particular sample and also determines the functional capability of the CTL population in the sample is provided. In one embodiment, the assay is used to measure the effector function of any tetramer-positive CTL using a single non -MHC-containing target cell line that is adapted to form an antibody bridge with the tetramer. Furthermore, effector function and enumeration can be measured by flow cytometry, and additional markers residing on either effector or target cell populations may be detected using antibodies coupled with other fluorochromes. The tetramer bridging assay will allow investigators to easily determine the lytic capacity and antigenic specificity of CTLs using a commercially available reagent in a non-radioactive assay.