Biological activity of cytokines and their concentrations are commonly measured by cellular proliferation of primary cell cultures or isolated cell lines that are dependent and/or responsive to a specific growth factor. Other aspects of biological activity of cytokines include induction of further cytokine secretion, induction of killing, antiviral activity, degranulation, cytotoxicity, chemotaxis, and promotion of colony formation. In vitro assays to measure all of these activities are available. Here, we discuss general protocols for setting up bioassays to measure: Note: In setting up bioassays, the possibility of contaminating cytokines in the sample should be eliminated since many of the available indicator cell lines are responsive to more than one cytokine, and several cytokines share signaling receptors. Furthermore, the dependence and responsiveness of cell lines should be carefully ascertained since continuous culture of cells may alter their sensitivity to growth factors. Bacterial endotoxins are effective inducers of cytokines; hence, their presence in the bioassay cultures should be eliminated. In order to obtain statistically significant values, samples should be performed in triplicate wells. Note: In interpreting bioassay data, note that many cytokines share receptor subunits and signaling second messengers and therefore could generate similar biological effect while being structurally different factors. False data generated due to the presence of other growth factors or soluble receptors can be further examined by blocking the effect of such reagents with specific antibodies. The following tables summarize the conditions and reagents needed for human and mouse cytokine bioassays.Cytokine Bioassays
Mouse Cytokine Bioassays Quick Guide Cytokine Indicator Cells Cell Density (x105) Feeder Cytokine Assay Medium FBS (%) Incubation Time (hours) Spec U/mg (10e) Recomb. Cytokine Top Conc. (ng/ml) ED50 (pg/ml) Comments IL-1b D10S 2 None 10 48 8 1 2 IL-2 CTLL-2 (ATCC TIB-214) 2 hIL-2 @100U/ml 10 24 7 10 80-300 IL-3 MC/9 (ATCC CRL-8306), NFS-60 2 mIL-3 @25U/ml 10 48 7 10 80-300 IL-4 CTLL-2 (ATCC TIB-214) 2 hIL-2 @100U/ml 10 24 7 10 40-150 IL-6 B9 2 hIL-6 @50pg/ml 10 48 8 0.1 3-12 IL-10 MC/9 (ATCC CRL-8306) 2 mIL-3 @25U/ml 10 48 7 10 150-600 with mIL-4, 5pg/ml costimulation IL-12 p70 C20.4 mIL-2 @100U/ml 10 48 6 100 1000 IL-15 CTLL-2 (ATCC TIB-214) 3 IL-2 @100U/ml 10 48 6 250 500-2000 IFNg L929 (ATCC CCL-1) 3.5 None 2 40 7 10 40-150 EMCV @1x104 TNFa L929 (ATCC CCL-1) 3.5 None 2 24 7 10 150-600 Actinomycin D @2µg/ml final GM-CSF MC/9 (ATCC CRL-8306) 2 mIL-3 @ 25U/ml 10 48 7 10 80-300 Human Cytokine Bioassays Quick Guide Cytokine Indicator Cell density (x105) Feeder cytokine Assay medium FBS (%) Incubation time (hours) Spec U/mg (10e) Recomb. Cytokine Top Conc. (ng/ml) ED50 (pg/ml) Comments IL-1a D10S 2 None 10 48 9 1 1 IL-1b C3H/HEJ Thymocytes 100 None 10 72 7 10 100 IL-2 CTLL-2 (ATCC TIB-214) 2 hIL-2 @100U/ml 10 24 7 10 80-300 IL-3 TF-1 (ATCC CRL-2003) 2 hGM-CSF @100U/ml 10 48 7 10 80-300 IL-4 TF-1 (ATCC CRL-2003) 2 hGM-CSF @100U/ml 10 48 7 10 80-300 IL-5 TF-1 (ATCC CRL-2003) 2 hGM-CSF @100U/ml 10 48 7 10 80-300 IL-6 TF-1 (ATCC CRL-2003) 2 hGM-CSF @100U/ml 10 48 7 0.1 80-300 IL-10 MC/9 (ATCC CRL-8306) 2 mIL-3 @25U/ml 10 48 6 10 1250 costimulate with mIL-4 @ 5pg/ml IL-12 p70 hPBMC None 10 48 7 10 100 IL-15 CTLL-2 (ATCC TIB-214) 3 IL-2 @100U/ml 10 48 6 1 500-2000 IFNg A549 (ATCC CCL-185) 3.5 None 2 40 7 10 300 EMCV @ 4x104 TNFa L929 (ATCC CCL-1) 3.5 None 2 24 6 10 500-2000 Actinomycin D @2µg/ml GM-CSF TF-1 (ATCC CRL-2003) 2 hGM-CSF @ 100U/ml 10 48 7 10 80-300 Useful Links
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What You Need
Materials
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What You Need
Materials
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Method