RAPID-DETERMINATION OF GAMMA-DELTA T-CELL STIMULATION BY MICROFLUORIMETRY

Activated T cells express CD25, the p55 chain of the IL-2 receptor. He re we report a reliable procedure for rapid determination of human gam ma delta T cell activation by microfluorimetric measurement of CD25. T hree days after initiation of culture, CD25 expression was determined. The sensitivity of this detection method was compared with [H-3]thymi dine incorporation at day 8. This proliferation assay allowed 3-5-fold higher dilution of the stimulatory ligand. However, monitoring of CD2 5 expression speeded up screening by 5 days. Therefore, for rapid scre ening of gamma delta T cell stimulation, e.g. for identification of ac tivating ligands, monitoring of CD25 at day 3 is superior to [H-3] thy midine measurement.