Human Cytokines
TECHNICAL BULLETIN
Human Cytokine Quantitative PCR Expression Assays
Lark offers a panel of PE cytokine assays, including GM-CSF, that can be used to quantitate steady-state mRNA
levels from human RNA samples. These assays can be used in QPCR analyses as a panel, as different
combinations, or individually. Lark also offers an option of using the PE Cytokine Expression Plate I, which
includes 12 assays (IL1-Ä…, IL1-², IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12 p35, IL-12 p40, IL-15, IFNÅ‚, TNFÄ…) per 96-
well plate with the human 18S rRNA as an endogenous control.
Cytokines and Their Roles
Cytokines have pleiotropic effects on many cell types and are often secreted molecules, although some membrane-
bound and extracellular matrix-bound forms exist. Cytokines are involved in both the immune and inflammatory
responses and effect the autocrine, paracrine, and juxtacrine pathways. Many of the receptors for these molecules
have been extensively studied, and they are known to transmit signals intracellularly that involve both signal
transduction and second messenger systems.
Cytokines are involved in a variety of disease states in man, including cancer, rheumatoid arthritis and other
inflammatory diseases, and parasitic infections. Due to their myriad functions in these diseases, cytokine
monitoring has taken a prominent role in clinical research.
In order to facilitate accurate quantitation of changes in cytokine expression, Lark Technologies offers Quantitative
PCR analysis of a number of distinct human cytokines. These cytokine assays can be used individually, in various
combinations, or as a group of twelve in the PE Cytokine Plate.
Ä… ²
Ä… ²
IL-Ä…, IL-1²
Ä… ²
IL-4
Functions
" Effects many cell types including B cells, T Functions
cells, and monocytes " Many actions on a variety of cell types, such as
" Involved in the immune response B cells, T cells, monocytes, endothelial cells,
" Involved in acute phase response, fever, and fibroblasts
steroidogenesis and hypotension " Induces B cells to produce IgG4 and IgE
" Modulates the inflammatory response
Produced by
Monocytes, tissue macrophages, Langerhans cells, Produced by
dendritic cells, T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, NK Mast cells, T cells, bone marrow, stromal cells,
cells, large granular lymphocytes, osteoblasts, basophils
vascular endothelium, smooth muscle, fibroblasts,
thymic epithelia, glia, keratinocytes, chondrocytes
IL-5
IL-2
Functions
Functions " Induces eosinophil proliferation
" Proliferation and subsequent differentiation of T " Stimulates eosinophil functions
cells, B cells, NK cells, lymphokine activated " Chemoattractant for eosinophils
killer cells, monocytes, macrophages, and " Activates eosinophil and B cell differentiation
oligodendrocytes
Produced by
Produced by T cells, eosinophils, mast cells
T cells
USA: 9441 West Sam Houston Parkway South, Suite 103, Houston, Texas 77099 Telephone: [phone]
Europe: Radwinter Road, Saffron Walden , Essex, CB11 3HY, UK Telephone: [phone]
Human Cytokines
TECHNICAL BULLETIN
IL-8
IL-15
Functions
" Chemoattractor and activator of neutrophils Functions
" Attractor of basophils and a lymphocytes " Similar to IL-2
subpopulation " Activates growth of T cells, NK cells and B cells
" Involved in the inflammatory response " Chemoattractant for T cells
" Induces angiogenesis
" Autocrine growth factor for melanoma cells Produced by
Epithelial cells and monocytes, periperal blood
Produced by mononuclear cells, placenta, skeletal muscle, kidney,
Monocytes, lymphocytes, granulocytes, neutrophils, lung, liver, and heart
eosinophils, T cells, NK cells, fibroblasts,
endothelial cells, bronchial epithelial cells,
Å‚
Å‚
keratinocytes, hepatocytes, astrocytes, chondrocytes IFNÅ‚
Å‚
Functions
IL-10 " Involved in the immune and inflammatory
responses
Functions " Necessary for TH1 T cell development
" Inhibits cytokine synthesis in activated TH1 T " Activates monocytes
cells and monocytes, and NK cells " Involved in the response to intracellular parasites
" Induces growth of B cells, thymocytes and mast " Has antiviral and anti-tumor activities when in
cells conjunction with IFNÄ…/²
" Induces B cells to produce IgA when in
conjunction with TGF² Produced by
" Down-regulates the immune response T cells, NK cells
Produced by
Ä…
Ä…
T cells, monocytes, B cells, tumor cells TNFÄ…
Ä…
Functions
" Initiates the immune response
" Kills tumor cells
" Involved in the inflammatory response
IL-12p35, IL-12p40 " Involved in the growth and development of
many cell types
Functions
" Multiple effects on T cells and NK cells Produced by
" Induces growth and development of TH1 T Activated lymphocyte, NK cells, astrocytes,
lymphocytes endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells
" Acts in immune response against intracellular
pathogens
" Stimulates IFNg production in T cells and NK GM-CSF
cells
" Stimulates NK and ADCC activities Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony Stimulating Factor
" Involved in growth of peripheral blood - not included in the PE Cytokine Plate
lymphocytes
Functions
Produced by " Enhances the proliferation, maturation and
B lymphoblastoid cells, monocyte/macrophages, B function of hematopoietic cells
cells and dendritic cells " Chemokinetic for eosinophils and neutrophils
USA: 9441 West Sam Houston Parkway South, Suite 103, Houston, Texas 77099 Telephone: [phone]
Europe: Radwinter Road, Saffron Walden , Essex, CB11 3HY, UK Telephone: [phone]
Human Cytokines
TECHNICAL BULLETIN
Molecular Systems, Inc. ABI Prism is a trademark of the Perkin-
" Enhances antibody-dependent, cell-mediated
Elmer Corporation. For research use only. Not for use in
effects in the immune response
diagnostic procedures.
" Enhances the proliferation of endothelial cells
and many tumor cell lines
Produced by
T cells, B cells, endothelial cells, fibroblasts, mast
cells
References:
PE Applied Biosystems. The TaqManń Cytokine
Gene Expression Plate I Protocol. 1998. The
Perkin-Elmer Corporation, pp.60-61.
Callard R. E., Gearing A. J. H. 1994. The Cytokine
Facts Book. London: Academic Press, Inc., pp.
31-98, 157-162, 241-246.
R&D Systems 1995 Catalog. 1995. R&D Systems,
pp. 3-5, 13-15, 25-27, 31-33, 49-50, 57-59, 67-
69, 101-103, 141-142, 187-189.
Related Cytokine Sites:
The International Cytokine Society at
http://bioinformatics.weizmann.ac.il/cytokine/
COPE or Cytokines Online Pathfinder Encyclopedia
at http://bioinformatics.weizmann.ac.il/cgi-
bin/cope/cope.pl
The Cytokines Web at
http://www.psynix.co.uk/cytweb/index.html
PCR is covered in patents issued to Cetus Corporation and owned
by Hoffman-La Roche, Inc. TaqMan is a trademark of Roche
USA: 9441 West Sam Houston Parkway South, Suite 103, Houston, Texas 77099 Telephone: [phone]
Europe: Radwinter Road, Saffron Walden , Essex, CB11 3HY, UK Telephone: [phone]