The protocol to detect self-reactive CD4 T cells in brain and heart by direct staining with major histocompatibility complex class II dextramers has been described in this report. For comprehensive analysis, a reliable method to enumerate the frequencies of antigen-specific CD4+ T cells in situ is also devised.
Massilamany, C., Gangaplara, A., Jia, T., Elowsky, C., Li, Q., Zhou, Y., Reddy, J. In Situ Detection of Autoreactive CD4 T Cells in Brain and Heart Using Major Histocompatibility Complex Class II Dextramers. J. Vis. Exp. (90), e51679, doi:10.3791/51679 (2014).