title: MTS interferon assay: a simplified cellular dehydrogenase assay for interferon activity using a water-soluble tetrazolium salt.
abstract: MTS, a tetrazolium dye, is reduced by hydrogenases in living cells to a water-soluble formazan. When it is added to the medium at the end of a cytopathic effects (CPE) inhibition interferon assay, the formazan formed diffuses into the medium; the resultant optical density directly and quantitatively measures how much cellular damage has been produced by the challenge virus in the presence of different amounts of interferon. The use of MTS has considerable advantages in that after it is added, no further steps, such as washing of the cells, extraction of dye, or other manipulations, are needed.
authors.affiliation: Interferon and Cytokine Research Laboratory, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Khabar
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: al-Zoghaibi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dzimiri
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Taha
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: al-Tuwaijri
authors.forename: M N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: al-Ahdal
mesh_terms: D002460:Cell Line; D005840:Gentian Violet; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000032:analysis*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010088:Oxidoreductases; D012394:Rosaniline Dyes; D012995:Solubility; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts / Q000378:metabolism*; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000378:metabolism*; D017186:Titrimetry; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D012394:Rosaniline Dyes; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D013844:Thiazoles; D014867:Water; C070380:3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium; D007372:Interferons; D010088:Oxidoreductases; D005840:Gentian Violet