Cytokine quantification in small animal models

Studies at the Department of immunology, National Veterinary Institute, Sweden indicated the potential to enhance vaccination against viral infections by using Ginseng as adjuvant.

In an effort to overcome difficulties and delays with ELISA assays, Gyrolab Bioaffy was used to determine cytokine concentrations directly in mice serum samples, as well as cell cultures of re-stimulated spleen cells.

Working with integrated processes at nanoliter scale significantly reduced the volumes of sample and reagents required.

Gyrolab Bioaffy showed a broader measurement range than ELISA for all three mouse cytokine standard curves, reducing the need for sample dilutions.

The bar chart shows detection of mouse cytokine IL-10 in serum, in the presence of the five different adjuvants, using Gyrolab Bioaffy. (Detection by ELISA was not successful since dilution to the required working volumes brought cytokine levels below the limit of detection.)

The ability to detect cytokines directly in serum samples means that the time required to confirm biological response can be greatly reduced. As such, there is the potential for significant reduction in vaccine development times.