Assessment of CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses using MHC class i and II tetramers

Abstract

The low frequency of T cells speci fi c for given antigens makes the study of antigen-speci fi c T cell responses dif fi cult. The development of MHC class I and II tetramer staining techniques allows precise quanti fi cation and tracking of antigen-speci fi c CD8+ and CD4+ T cell responses. Here, we describe a protocol for MHC class I and II tetramer staining of mouse T cells isolated from various tissues of mice infected with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) or with murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV). © Springer Science+Business Media New York 2013.