Luminex-Coupled EliFACS: A Multiparametric Method to Enumerate and Functionally Characterize Antigen-Specific T cells in Human Peripheral Blood.

We describe a Luminex-coupled EliFACS assay that integrates multiplexing technology, enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT), and intracellular cytokine FACS staining for the detection of multiple parameters of antigen-specific T-cell activation in human peripheral blood. Although our protocol is for measuring T-cell responses against cardiac myosin heavy chain and myelin basic protein, the major autoantigens in myocarditis and multiple sclerosis, respectively, these methods could be used for the detection of T-cell responses to other antigens, including foreign antigens.