Lymphocytic test

When specific effector T lymphocytes are in contact with target cells in vitro, they can exhibit the characteristics of destroying and lysing target cells, which is called cytotoxicity. The target cells may be tumor cells or other tissue cells. Lymphocytes can kill target cells by killing them directly or by producing lymphokines. This test method has two types: morphological examination method and isotope release method. The former does not require special equipment, and only needs to count the survival number of target cells with a microscope, which is more convenient to operate. The latter is to label target cells with 125I-deoxyuracil nucleoside or 51Cr, and to use radioisotope release as an indicator of target cell damage. This method requires special equipment such as a liquid scintillator, but it can be automatically measured and the results are repeatable.