Webinar: Optimizing Cytokine Analysis-Choosing the Right Assay for Accurate Detection and Interpretation of Cytokine Expression

The increasing availability of commercial multiplexed cytokine assays has made measurement of circulating cytokine levels more common in the study of the pathogenesis of disease, but it also introduces several technical challenges that can make assay design more complicated. Determination of the suitability of an assay for a given application as well as a thorough understanding of how elements of experimental design may impact study outcomes are critical to the generation of robust and rigorous research data.

Nonhuman primates (NHPs) are often chosen as a preclinical model of disease and treatment due to their close evolutionary relationship with humans, including a complex immune system. Since these studies are often the last step before translation to clinical application, it’s critical that researchers understand how demographic characteristics and experimental design, such as species and sex, may affect therapeutic efficacy or safety. Confidence in immunoassay data depends on the accuracy and precision that is only possible from using high quality antibody reagents. This means selecting antibodies with not only high analyte affinity but also specificity, which is the ability to distinguish between the analyte and other structurally similar components.

Presenters will highlight their experience using Luminex nonhuman primate cytokine performance panels and the advantages of measuring a multitude of different targets without increasing your sample volume.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the elements of preclinical assay qualification
• Describe how common study-imposed variables may unintentionally impact cytokine expression
• Recognize the utility of multiplex cytokine analysis in preclinical research applications
• Learn what attributes to look for in choosing the right cytokine assay

Speakers:

Laura Hocum Stone- is a non-clinical applications specialist who leads the in vitro service line for the University of Minnesota’s Preclinical Research Center (PCRC). She received her Ph.D. in neuroscience and has deep expertise in animal disease models, cell culture, and immune monitoring reflected in her research publications.

Scott Hunter Oppler- is a dual PhD/DVM student at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, enrolled in the college’s Comparative and Molecular Biosciences program, advised by Dr. Melanie Graham. The focus of his PhD research has centered around improving the scientific rigor of NHP research towards improved clinical translation and animal welfare.