Measurement of cytokines

Meager, A. 2006. Measurement of cytokines by bioassays theory and applications. Methods 38, 237-252. 

Cytokine profiling has also been measured as a function of changes in cytokine mRNA expression using either reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) [87, 91-93] or ribonuclease protection assay (RPA) [94-97], Measurement of cytokine transcripts by RT-PCR revealed that prolonged exposure to TMA induced increased levels of IL-4 mRNA expression compared with treatment with DNCB [87,92-93]. However, expression of the type 1 cytokine IFN-y by DNCB-activated LNC was variable and failed to discriminate between contact and respiratory allergens [87,91,93). A similar profile was observed for freshly isolated tissue analyzed by RPA. This somewhat less... 

Cytokines, which are protein mediators produced by immune cells, are involved in the regulation of cell activation, growth and differentiation, inflammation, and immunity. Measurement of cytokine production, as determined by techniques such as bioassay, radioimmunoassay, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, has been used to examine various immune functions. 

The expression of many cytokines has been found to correlate with disease exacerbation and severity. Therefore, the measurement of cytokine concentration may be used as a predictive parameter or disease marker for monitoring disease activity and therapeutic efficacies. 

In peritoneal sepsis models, the peritoneum is lavaged and the lavage fluid is processed for cell counts quantitation of bacteria, and measurement of cytokines. 

Dugue B, Leppanen E, Grasbeck R. Preanalytical factors and the measurement of cytokines in human subjects. Int J Clin Lab Res 1996 26 99-105. 

In the measurement of cytokines in body fluids, samples must be collected and stored in the proper manner. The main problems encountered in the collection process include (1) cytokines can continue to be produced after sample collection by the various cells present in the biological fluid (2) collection tubes can become contaminated by microorganisms, which are a potent stimulus of cytokine production (3) cytokines can be degraded in the collection container and (4) cytokines can bind to cell receptors during storage. 

Heney D, Whitcher JX. Factors affecting the measurement of cytokines in biological fluids Implications for their cfinical measurement. Ann Clin Biochem 1995 32 358-68. 

Cox, J.H., Ferrari, G., and Janetzki, S. (2006) Measurement of cytokine release at the single cell level using the ELISPOT assay. Methods, 38, 274 282. 

Bioassays are generally more sensitive than immunoassays for the measurement of cytokines in cell culture supernatants. The characteristics of calibration curves vary among different assays (Fig. 9) and limits of sensitivity must be set to use only the part of the curve that provides adequate precision. 

Banks, R. E. 2000. Measurement of cytokines in clinical samples using immunoassays Problems and pitfalls. Critical Reviews in Clinical Laboratory Sciences 37 131-182. 

Bienvenu, J., G. Monneret, N. Fabien, and J. P. Revillard. 2000. The clinical usefulness of the measurement of cytokines. Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine 38 267-285. 

BALB/c mice S.c. injection with Pb (chloride) Measure of cytokine Enhanced production of IL-4 by Heo et al. 3... 

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