title: Rapid assays for quantitating cytokine gene expression without target amplification.
abstract: Many drug discovery efforts are focused on finding candidates that alter gene expression of the cytokines involved in inflammation, allergy, and cell-mediated immunity. Current methods used to evaluate gene expression such as northern blot and RT-PCR are laborious, time-consuming, expensive, and are not conducive to high throughput screening. High Performance Signal Amplification (HPSA( trade mark )) gene expression assays quantitate mRNA targets directly from cell lysate samples using DNA probe hybridization and fluorescent signal amplification. The assay format eliminates the need for RNA purification prior to testing and does not involve target amplification. The 96 or 384-well microplate formats allow the method to be run manually, by a workstation approach, or with full automation. Cellular mRNA levels are quantitated relative to a standard curve comprised of highly purified in vitro RNA calibrators. The analytical sensitivity is in the low attomole (10(-18) mole) range. This technique was used to monitor the transcription patterns of mRNA encoding TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and Interferon-gamma in human cell lines or primary PBMC treated with inducers such as PMA, ionomycin, and endotoxin. The specificity, precision and reproducibility of the assay are sufficient to provide a reliable screening system. The HPSA gene expression assay system offers a rapid and convenient alternative to more cumbersome, expensive methods.
authors.affiliation: Chromagen, Inc., San Diego, California 92121, USA. fgonzales@chromagen.com
authors.forename: Frank R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Gonzales
authors.forename: Augusto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lois
authors.forename: Toddy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sewell
authors.forename: Carl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: LaCerte
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tolley
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gaynor
authors.forename: Edison
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: Melinda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jazdzewski
authors.forename: Tammy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Oliver
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Postor
authors.forename: Deirdre
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Trainor
mesh_terms: D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D015342:DNA Probes; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization / Q000379:methods*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D015342:DNA Probes; D012333:RNA, Messenger