title: Measurement of type I interferon production.
abstract: The Basic Protocol in this unit describes measurement of murine interferon (IFN)α/β by intracellular staining for these cytokines and detection by flow cytometry. Alternate protocols detail an enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA) for IFNα and a biological assay to measure IFN. The FACS assay allows measurement of IFNα/β production by defined cell populations, while ELISA measures secreted IFNα. The bioassay measures functional antiviral activity and is the most sensitive of the assays discussed. These assays therefore provide complementary methods to assess IFN production by murine cells.
authors.affiliation: Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Rosalind E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Seeds
authors.forename: Joanna L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods*; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods*; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051379:Mice
chemical_list: D016898:Interferon-alpha; D016899:Interferon-beta