Conjugate formation between autotumor reactive CD4⁺ T cells and malignant B cells in CD4⁺ T/malignant B-cell cocultures, accumulation of CD138⁺ cells, and preferential localization of CD138⁺ cells within conjugates.

After various time intervals, cells were harvested, triple stained with anti-CD4–PE-Cy5, kappa-PE, and CD138-FITC Abs, and analyzed by flow cytometry. At analysis, CD138⁺ cells were gated and colored in orange; CD138⁻ cells were colored in grey. CD138⁺ and CD138⁻ cells were then simultaneously visualized on dot plots with CD4-PE-Cy5/kappa-PE parameters. 50 000 events were collected for each dot plot. The quadrant statistics cursors were set using appropriate negative control antibodies. Results are from 1 representative experiment of the 5 performed.