Measuring the effect of drug treatments on primary human CD8+ T cell activation and cytolytic potential

CD8+ T cells are key effector cells in adaptive immune responses against intracellular pathogens and cancer cells. Systemic drug treatments, like chemotherapy, may positively or negatively affect CD8+ T cell function. In this protocol, we describe robust and optimized ex vivo polyclonal activation and cell culture conditions to measure drug treatments' effects on primary human CD8+ T cell activation and cytolytic potential. We provide streamlined methods for measuring

Automated summary

CD8+ T cells are key effector cells in the adaptive immune response, and drug treatments may impact their function. This protocol outlines robust methods for measuring the effects of drugs on the activation and cytolytic potential of primary human CD8+ T cells through ex vivo polyclonal activation and cell culture conditions.