---
title: In vivo NIRF whole-body imaging through MHC tetramers
description: The use of MHC tetramers for detection of antigen specific T cells has been a well-established technique since it originally gained prominence in mid-1990s
image: https://blog.mblintl.com/hubfs/NIRF_blog_text.jpg
---

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- In vivo NIRF whole-body imaging through MHC tetramers

# In vivo NIRF whole-body imaging through MHC tetramers

### Topics

- Select Topic - 3D Cell Culture Advancements in Metabolism Research Allergy Antibodies Antibody Antibody Reagents Antibody-Peptide Conjugates Apoptosis Assay and Kits Autoimmune Disease Autophagy BRIC Benefits of Tetramer Assays Biomarker Cancer Cell Biology Cell Culture Reagents Cell Stabilization Custom Peptide Synthesis Cytokine Dextramer Staining Drug Discovery ELISA Epigenetics Epitope Tag Exosome Exosomes FCM Fc blocker Flow Cytometry Flow Cytometry Antibodies Fluoppi Fluorescent Proteins Future of Tetramer Technology Gastric Inhibitory Peptide Gene Regulation Gene Therapy Green Fluorescent Protein IL-18 Immune Response Immunology Inflammation Isotype Control Kits and Assays LC3 Liquid Biopsy MHC MHC Alleles MHC Class II Tetramers MHC Peptides Contribute MHC Tetramer MHC Tetramer Protocol MHC tetramer advancements Metabolism Mitophagy NCP Neuroscience Neuroscience Reagents Organoid PCSK9 PCSK9 ELISA Kit Peptide Peptide Exchange Peptide Synthesis Methods Peptide Synthesis Service Peptide-Infused Skin Care Products Preservation Purify exosome Quality Control QuickSwitch Quickswitch™ Custom Tetramer Kits RBP RIP Chip RNA Recombinant Protein Production Recombinant Proteins Regulation RiboTrap S100 Proteins SARS-CoV-2 T-Cell Detection TCR Tetramers Tetramer Tetramer Analysis Tetramer Assay Tetramer Assay Protocol Tetramer Staining TransFix Vectors Western Reagents atg8 covid-19 gfp keima red kinases mitochondria cell death p62 pathways phosphorylation pro IL-18 reagents rfp t cell tuberculosis ultracentrifugation vaccine

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Published by [Yuri Poluektov](https://blog.mblintl.com/author/yuri-poluektov) on Apr 8, 2020 1:00:00 PM

![](https://blog.mblintl.com/hubfs/NIRF_blog_text.jpg)

The use of MHC tetramers for the detection of antigen specific T cells has been a well-established technique since it originally gained prominence in the mid-1990s. Since then, the sophistication of MHC tetramer and multimer design as well as its sensitivity in detecting target T cells has been steadily improving. Most applications of MHC Tetramers involve the use of Flow Cytometry to enumerate, purify or sort specific T cells, but in some cases, it is possible to use tetramers to visualize entire immunological processes taking place inside a whole body.

We want to bring to your attention a recent paper by Welsh and Song et. al. (Plos Biology Feb, 2020)1. In their study, while constantly using MHC Class II tetramers to detect and enumerate pathogenic T cells, responsible for the progression of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) as well as Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE) induced in mice models, the group performed a number of imaging trials. This imaging procedure involved a modified in vivo NIRF whole-body imaging technique described in the paper. The group was successful in identifying a co-localized population of Collagen peptide specific T-cells and a molecular probe specific for denatured Collagen protein molecules using an IRDye800CW-conjugated CII(280–294) peptide loaded HLA-DR1 tetramer.

**Fig 1. CIA diseased DR1+DO-KO mice showed increased co-localization of CII(280-294)/DR1 tetramer positive CD4 T cells with denatured collagen.**

**Fig 1.**

![NIRF_blog](https://blog.mblintl.com/hs-fs/hubfs/NIRF_blog.jpg?width=499&name=NIRF_blog.jpg)

Representative images of CIA diseased DR1+DO-KO (top) and DR1+DO-WT (bottom) mice showing the distribution of in vivo stained CII(280-294)/DR1 tetramer positive T cells (green) 72 hours after footpad injection. CMP probe (red) was injected IV at the same time. Representative of 2 independent experiments.

What makes this result even more significant is that the MHC Class II tetramers are notorious for being weak binders that stain cells poorly. But this group was able to overcome this limitation and detect antigen specific T cells in vivo, presenting another application for the use of MHC tetramers in the study of immune processes. If combined with our [Quickswitch™](https://resources.mblintl.com/learning-center/mhc-tetramers/quickswitch-custom-tetramer-kits/) tetramers, this procedure would be able to quickly generate an MHC tetramer with any desired peptide, without significant use of time and resources. This could potentially allow for quick screening of specific T cell populations in vivo and perhaps even the detection of multiple antigen-specific T cell populations at once.

[![Learn More about MHC Tetramers](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/424171/2e69f97e-d0b8-46be-bd99-4ef05c5f0c0c.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/424171/2e69f97e-d0b8-46be-bd99-4ef05c5f0c0c)

 

1. Welsh and Song et. al Plos Biology 2 **(**[**https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3000590**](https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3000590)**)**

 

 

Tags: [Tetramer](https://blog.mblintl.com/topic/tetramer), [QuickSwitch](https://blog.mblintl.com/topic/quickswitch)

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