What is the Origin of Cytokine Release Assay?

This assay technique is fundamentally rooted in the field of immunology and has become a standard tool in pharmaceutical development and pharmacology. Cytokines, from the Greek 'cyto' for cell and 'kinos' for movement, are the chemical messengers of the immune system. The assay's development was driven by the need to understand and mitigate the severe inflammatory reactions observed with certain immunomodulatory drugs.

What is the Mechanism of Cytokine Release Assay?

The mechanism involves isolating peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from a donor and incubating them with varying concentrations of the test compound. If the compound is immunogenic, it will activate T-cells or other immune cells, prompting them to release a panel of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines, such as Interleukin-6 or Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha. The secreted cytokines are then measured in the cell culture supernatant using highly sensitive analytical methods like ELISA or multiplex bead arrays, providing a quantitative measure of the immune reaction.

Cytokine Release Assay ∞ Area

Cytokine Release Assay

Meaning

A Cytokine Release Assay is a specific laboratory technique used to quantify the production and secretion of signaling proteins, known as cytokines, by immune cells when exposed to a therapeutic agent or antigen. This in vitro test serves as a critical preclinical safety screen to predict the potential for a systemic inflammatory response, sometimes referred to as a cytokine storm, in a living organism. For novel peptide or biological hormonal therapies, this assay is vital for assessing the risk of immunotoxicity. It provides a measurable indicator of immune cell activation.