Mechanism of cell-mediated cytotoxicity at the single cell level. I. Estimation of cytotoxic T lymphocyte frequency and relative lytic efficiency
Grimm, E.; Bonavida, B.
Journal of Immunology 123(6): 2861-2869
1979
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-1767 PMID: 315432 Document Number: 140368
A single cell method was developed for directly measuring the frequency of cytotoxic T alloantigens, frequency of CTL ranged from about 12-24% of total T lymphocytes. Frequency of CTL and kinetics of lysis were a function of the state of immunity, method of sensitization and target cell employed. The single cell method described here has several features: its independence of CTL recycling; elimination of the variability in 51Cr release by target cells; and its provision for a direct estimate of CTL frequency. The method is simple, reproducible, highly quantitative with very low numbers of CTL and adaptable to non-T cell-mediated cytotoxic systems.