Optimization Of Preparation Of HLA-I Class Peptide Tetramers And The Detection Of Specific CTL

Background & ObjectiveT cells are one of the most pivotal cells in human immune system. To study T cells' recognition, activation and frequency distribution is the most important component element in modern immunology.Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) have important function on T cellullar immunologic response. CTL mainly recognize antigen polypeptide on surface of target cells (such as virus infected cells and tumor cells). The recognization is restricted by MHC class I molecules. The major biological contributions of CTL are antiviral immunity, anti-tumor immunity and graft rejection reaction. But the cultivation of CTL in vitro is very difficult task. Amplification course will bring considerable non-antigen specific T cells. The technology of precise analysis of CTL frequency and rapid isolation and amplification of CTL is absent.To study antigen epitope specific T cells at single cell level is very important. It is very important to study epitope specific CTLs at single cell level. In the past, chromium-51 release assay and limiting dilution analysis assay are usually used to detect antigen-specific T cells. But the two methods are time consuming, taking a lot of work, insensitive and cannot study antigen epitope specific T cells at single cell level. Since Altma et al. invented tetramers in 1996; the detection of antigen-specific CTL entered a new era. This new method is more sensitive. This method allows the direct ex vivo visualization of T cells without in vitro amplification, thus providing a more accurate picture of the in vivo immune response. The HLA-1 class molecules...