Figure 3. Detection of OCT4-reactive CD4⁺ T cells. MACS-sorted CD4⁺ cells were stimulated with autologous dendritic cells (DCs) loaded with an immunoreactive OCT4-derived peptide. CD4⁺ cells stimulated with anti-CD3/anti-CD28 beads and CD4⁺ cells exposed to unloaded DCs served as a positive and negative control condition, respectively. Results from 2 representative donors showing interferon γ (IFNγ) production (on day 3) and antigen-dependent CD4⁺ T-cell proliferation (on day 6) are reported. CD4⁺ cells from both donors did not exhibit high IFNγ production by in response to OCT4-derived peptide-loaded DCs (p > 0.05), while cells from one donor underwent a significant proliferative response (p < 0.05).