Cell-mediated lymphocytotoxicity (CML) assays can be used to test autoreactive responses and study mechanisms of cell death in vitro. However, using live-cell confocal microscopic imaging techniques with fluorescent dyes, the type and kinetics of cell death as well as the pathways utilized can be studied in greater detail.
Chen, J., Grieshaber, S., Mathews, C. E. Methods to Assess Beta Cell Death Mediated by Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes. J. Vis. Exp. (52), e2724, doi:10.3791/2724 (2011).