Dendritic cell-based proliferative assays of peripheral T cell responses to tetanus toxoid.

Antigen-specific proliferative responses of peripheral blood T cells are widely used in humans to study the T cell compartment. However, responses to autoantigens are often weak and poorly reproducible. Here we show, using a test recall antigen (tetanus toxoid), that absolute levels of proliferation, minimally detectable antigen doses, and/or ability to detect statistically significant responses can be enhanced using in vitro-generated autologous dendritic cells as antigen presenting cells.