Gap junctions (GJs) are clusters of intercellular connexin-formed channels found at the plasma membrane that allow direct communication between the cytoplasm of adjacent cells. Numerous reports have described GJs as modulators of key immunological processes, including in anti-tumor immune responses. Here, we described a simple flow cytometry method to test in vitro antigen-dependent GJ-mediated cell-to-cell coupling between cytotoxic T cells and target melanoma cells.
Keywords: Calcein transfer; Cytotoxic T lymphocytes; Flow cytometry; Gap junctions; Immunological synapse; Intercellular communications; Melanoma; Tumor cells.