Detection and analysis of antigen-specific CD8(+) T cells

Based on recent advances in techniques that can detect and enumerate antige n-specific CD8(+) T cells, it is evident that these cells can differentiall y regulate CD8(+) T cell effector mechanisms at the single-cell level. Inte rplay between effector mechanisms that are employed by antigen-specific CD8 (+) T cells during the immune response in vivo can be addressed with differ ent techniques that "count" cells either directly (T cell receptor (TCR) ex pression) or indirectly (antigen-specific cytokine production).