TNF-alpha human ELISA

Immunoenzymetric assay for the in vitro quantitative measurement of human Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNF-alpha) in serum.

INTENDED USE:Immunoenzymetric assay for the in vitro quantitative measurement of human Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNF-alpha) in serum.

GENERAL INFORMATION:

A. Biological activities
Human Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha (TNF-α) also named cachectin, is a 157 A.A. unglycosylated polypeptide cytokine mainly produced by activated macrophages (monocytes). Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), the cell-wall component of gram-negative bacteria (endotoxin), is a potent stimulus for TNF-α production by macrophages and TNF-α is an important mediator of the well-known in vivo effects of LPS such as tumour hemorrhagic necrosis, fever, shock and activation of neutrophils. The various biological activities of TNF-α may be classified as:
- Antitumoral and growth regulatory activities: TNF-α displays a selective toxicity for tumor and virusinfected cells. Conversely, it is angiogenic and stimulates the growth of cultured fibroblasts.
- Immunomodulatory and proinflammatory activities: TNF-α activates macrophages, neutrophils and eosinophils, as well as endothelial cells (which display procoagulant activity). It regulates the production of antibodies by B cells and stimulates cytotoxic T cells. It induces the production of several other inflammatory mediators such as IL-1, IL-6, colony stimulating factors, prostaglandins, plateletactivating factor (PAF), collagenases, etc.
- Metabolic activities: TNF-α strongly inhibits lipoprotein lipase and adipocyte gene expression.

B. Clinical application
TNF-α has a major pathogenic role: in cachexia associated with chronic infectious or cancerous diseases; in septic shock where the neutralization of TNF-α protects against the associated acute lethality; in graft rejection and graft-versus-host disease; and in parasitic infections where TNF-α may provide some protection but also favours more severe forms of the disease (e.g. the cerebral form of malaria). TNF-α often in combination with other cytokines, has also been involved in several autoimmune diseases and even in the pathogenesis of arteriosclerosis. Abnormal high levels of serum TNF-α have been described in septic shock, graft rejection, parasitic infections, cancer, post hemofiltrations, during in vivo cytokine (IL-2) therapy, etc. Besides an insight into pathogenesis, these determinations might provide an aid in diagnosis (e.g. in graft rejection) and have prognostic value (e.g. in systemic infections).

KIT CHARACTERISTICS:
- Method: ELISA
- Tests: 96
- Incubation Time / Conditions: 2 h, 2 h, 30 min (RT/shaker)
- Standard Range: 4.60 - 452 pg/ml
- Sensitivity analytical: 0.7 pg/ml
- Final Sample Volume: 200 µl
- Sample Type: serum
- Isotope / Substrate: TMB 450 nm
- Internal Controls: 2
- Regulatory Status: CE