[Development of immunoassay for cytokines and its clinical significance]

As measurement systems of cytokines have recently been developed, there are many reports indicating the relationship between cytokines and various diseases. We have also developed various new measurement systems using gene technology and hybridoma technology. The measurement system is composed of the following 5 steps. (1) Cloning of cytokines, (2) Expression of cytokines, (3) Purification of cytokines, (4) Preparation of antibodies (monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies), (5) Development of immunoassay. Cytokines are measured not only in the cytokine itself but also in the receptor, receptor antagonist, and autoantibody. We established the measurement system of cytokines using ELISA (antibody is labeled by enzyme.) for the cytokine itself and RIA (antigen is labeled by isotope.) for the autoantibody to cytokines. The blood concentration of cytokines is low because cytokines are utilized immediately after production and excreted into the urine. Therefore, the immunological responses of individuals can be determined by an ex vivo measurement of the production of cytokines by stimulation of whole blood with LPS not by simply measuring the cytokine itself in plasma. We call this method "Whole Blood Induction Method". This method is positioned as one of the methods which shows the immunological response of cytokines to the outer body at the time of infection using a low volume of human blood. Finally, studies of cytokines have been carried out not only in immunological systems but also in hormone systems which are closely related to cytokines. Studies have also expanded to fields which, to date, have not been thought to be related by investigating adherence factors.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)