A three-dimensional organotypic assay to measure target cell killing by cytotoxic T lymphocytes

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) mediate antigen- and cell-cell contact dependent killing of target cells, such as cancer cells and virus-infected cells. In vivo, this process requires the active migration of CTL towards and away from target cells. We here describe an organotypic 3D collagen matrix assay to monitor CTL migration together with CTL-mediated killing of target cells. The assay supports both, time-lapse microscopy of killing dynamics as well as population analysis of killing after matrix digestion and flow cytometry. The assay was used to assess the detrimental effect of cyclosporine A (CsA) present during CTL activation, which caused an inhibition of CTL-target cell conjugation and strongly impaired CTL-mediated killing, particularly at low effector-target ratios. Thus, the organotypic assay is useful to monitor spatiotemporal control mechanisms of cytotoxic immune effector functions.