Determination of cytokine responses using a multiplexed fluorescent microsphere immunoassay

Am J Clin Pathol. 2002 Sep;118(3):346-53. doi: 10.1309/N0T6-C56B-GXB2-NVFB.

Abstract

We used a multiplexedfluorescent microsphere immunoassay to develop a sandwich capture assay to assess simultaneously the production of thymus helper (TH) 1- and TH2-type cytokines in tissue culture supernatant obtained from stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The assay then was used to assess the cytokine production of patients with hyperimmunoglobulinemia E syndrome and in cord blood from neonates. The multiplexed assay has a reportable range of less than 10 to 50,000 pg/mL. For linearity and recovery studies, R2 values for the 6 cytokines ranged from 0.988 to 0.999 for samples spiked with known concentrations of recombinant cytokine standards and for patient samples. The assay showed good specificity, with little cross-reactivity between cytokines. Results from supernatants of Staphylococcus aureus-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtainedfrom 6 patients with hyperimmunoglobulinemia E syndrome showed significantly less interferon (IFN)-gamma production than cells from healthy control subjects. Cord blood cells from neonates produced significantly less interleukin 12 and IFN-gamma than cells from adults in group B streptococci-stimulated mononuclear cells. The fluorescent multiplexed microsphere immunoassay can be used to quantitate multiple cytokines from 1 sample and should be useful for further understanding of the cytokine role in disease.

MeSH terms

  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cytokines / biosynthesis*
  • Fetal Blood / immunology
  • Fluorescence
  • Humans
  • Hypergammaglobulinemia / immunology
  • Immunoassay / instrumentation
  • Immunoassay / methods*
  • Immunoglobulin E
  • Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / immunology*
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / immunology
  • Lymphocyte Activation / physiology
  • Microspheres
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Staphylococcus aureus / immunology
  • Th1 Cells / immunology*
  • Th2 Cells / immunology*

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • Immunoglobulin E