Enrichment and detection of live antigen-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells based on cytokine secretion

Abstract

Following appropriate antigen-specific stimulation, CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes rapidly express cytokines. Based on this stimulation-induced cytokine secretion and using cell suface affinity matrix technology we have developed a new method that permits specific, rapid and efficient detection, isolation and characterization of live antigen-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes. The power of this technique is demonstrated here for HL4-A0201-restricted influenza matrix protein peptide 58-66-specific CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes, influenza A virus- and recombinant tetanus toxin C fragment-specific Th1 cells and tetanus toxoid-specific Th2 cells.