Measuring T Cell Function in Innate Immune Models

Innate immune responses often result in the activation and modulation of T lymphocyte function. Analysis of T lymphocytes in mouse models of innate immunity can allow understanding of the links between the innate and adaptive immune systems. Other T lymphocyte populations display innate-like functions. Isolation of T cells and evaluation of their surface proteins can provide data on T cell activation, as can an analysis of T cell proliferation. Further insight may be obtained by examining cytokine production via intracellular cytokine staining or ELISPOT to determine T cell function. This chapter describes methods for T cell isolation, measurement of surface protein expression, T cell proliferation, intracellular cytokine staining, and ELISPOT.