A simple, sensitive bioassay for the detection of interleukin-1 using human melanoma A375 cell line

Interleukin-1 (IL-1) exhibits multiple biological properties on various tissues by modulating immunologic, inflammatory, metabolic, and neurologic functions. Considerable attention has focussed on the measurement of IL-1 activity. We reported a simple, sensitive, and specific bioassay for IL-1 using human melanoma A375 subclone which is highly sensitive for the cell growth inhibitory activity of IL-1. This bioassay method is allows detection of as low as 10pg of IL-1 beta/ml or 30pg of IL-1 alpha/ml. Since this A375 subclone cell dose not respond to prostaglandin E2 plant lectins, lipopolysaccharide, and cytokines such as interleukin-2, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor, interferon or colony-stimulating factor, it is an extremely useful and rapid method for the measurement of IL-1 activity in a variety of experimental and clinical conditions. The assay method was used in the presence of antisera to IL-1 beta to discriminate two species of IL-1, IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta, produced in human peripheral mononuclear cells.