Tetramer assay
Tetramer Assay
Tetramer assay (pronunciation: te-tra-mer as-say) is a scientific method used in the field of Immunology to quantify the number of T cells that are specific to a certain antigen. The term "tetramer" refers to a complex of four identical molecules linked together, which in this case are monoclonal antibodies that bind to the T cell receptors.
Etymology
The term "tetramer" is derived from the Greek word "tetra", meaning four, and "meros", meaning part. The "assay" part of the term comes from the Old French "essai", meaning trial or test.
Procedure
In a tetramer assay, peptide-MHC tetramers are used to stain antigen-specific T cells. These tetramers bind to the T cell receptors, allowing for the identification and quantification of antigen-specific T cells. This method is particularly useful in studying immune responses to infections and vaccines, as well as in the diagnosis and monitoring of autoimmune diseases and cancer.
Related Terms
- Monoclonal Antibodies: These are antibodies that are made by identical immune cells that are all clones of a unique parent cell.
- Antigen: A substance that induces an immune response in the body, especially the production of antibodies.
- T cells: A type of white blood cell that is of key importance to the immune system and is at the core of adaptive immunity.
- Peptide-MHC Tetramers: These are complexes of four MHC molecules bound to a specific peptide. They are used in tetramer assays to stain antigen-specific T cells.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Tetramer assay
- Wikipedia's article - Tetramer assay
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