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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2015 Nov 1.
Published in final edited form as: Scand J Immunol. 2015 Nov;82(5):399–408. doi: 10.1111/sji.12344

Table 2.

Advantages of using MHC class II dextramers over tetramers for detecting antigen-specific, autoreactive CD4 T cells.

Parameters Tetramers Dextramers
a. Generation of reagents
    • Creation of MHC constructs,
      expression of
      soluble MHC monomers and
      biotinylation		 Steps are similar for both the reagents
    • Multimerization Require
fluorophore/streptavidin-
conjugated molecules		 Require
fluorophore/streptavidin-
conjugated dextran molecules
b. Staining characteristics based on flow cytometry
    • Number of MHC monomers per
      reaction		 12.6 × 10−12 moles 2.78 × 10−12 moles
    • Specificity Yes Yes, but enhanced
    • Sensitivity Low High
    • Duration Variable (usually 2 to 3
hours in our hands)		 Relatively short (0.5 to 2 hours)
c. Applications
    • Detection of T cells ex vivo May or may not work Reliable and consistent
    • Detection of T cells activated in
      vitro 		Useful Useful
    • Detection of T cells in situ May work Reliable and consistent
    • Cytokine-phenotyping by flow
      cytometry		 Yes Yes, but with enhanced sensitivity
    • Bioassay Yes Yes