Deconvoluting TCR-Dependent and -Independent Activation Is Vital for Reliable Ag-Specific CD4⁺ T Cell Characterization by AIM Assay

Researchers showed that CD39⁺ regulatory T cell (Treg)–like and CD26^hi TH22–like cells undergo T cell receptor–independent activation by cytokines during antigen stimulation, leading to nonspecific up-regulation of activation-induced marker readouts.