Human IFN-alpha FlowCytomix Simplex

Description: This FlowCytomix Simplex Kit is designed for the measurement of Human IFN-alpha in an immunoassay analyzed on a flow cytometer. Together with the FlowCytomix Human Basic Kit (cat. BMS8420FF), this kit can be used to detect IFN-alpha alone or can be multiplexed with other Simplex Kits to measure a variety of analytes.

This kit contains bead population B3.

The interferons represent proteins with antiviral activity secreted from cells in response to a variety of stimuli. In mammals, class I interferon (IFN-alpha) genes form a superfamily consisting of three gene families, the alpha interferon (IFN-alpha), the beta interferon (IFN-beta) and the interferon omega (IFN-omega) genes. In humans the IFN-alpha family comprises more than 20 genes and pseudogenes giving rise to 15 different functional gene products. The various species of human IFN-alpha are closely related in amino acid sequences with homologies in the range of 80 to 100 %.

The role of IFN-alpha as a disease marker and marker for immunotherapeutic approaches has been demonstrated for a number of different indications and pathological situations:

- During the acute phase of a viral infection IFN-alpha levels are significantly elevated in the majority of patients. IFN-alpha levels fall significantly during the period of convalescence at the time viral infection is indicated by seroconversion tests.

- Increased levels of IFN-alpha were found in the majority of patients suffering from inflammatory arthropathies like juvenile polyarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, ancylosing spondylitis, polychondritis, psoriatic arthritis, polymyalgia rheumatica and sclerodermia. Elevated IFN-alpha levels have also been shown for other autoimmune disorders like systemic lupus erythematosus and systemic vasculitis.

- Serum IFN-alpha levels can help to distinguish between children with non-specific abdominal pain or mesenteric adenitis, and those with acute appendicitis.

- For resistant local recurrence in e.g. breast cancer and metastatic spread local infiltration of IFN-alpha is a new interesting approach. Intrapleurally administered interferon causes measurable serum concentrations which correlated with the degeneration of malignant cells.

The IFN-alpha product is manufactured and sold in the United States under license from Pestka Biomedical Laboratories, Inc. (d/b/a PBL InterferonSource) solely for research use in the form in which it is originally manufactured, packaged and sold. Any modification, repackaging, or alteration of the product, and any use for diagnostic, therapeutic or clinical purposes is strictly prohibited.

Citations: Urbonaviciute,Vilma; Furnrohr,Barbara G.; Meister,Silke; Munoz,Luis; Heyder,Petra; De Marchis,Francesco; Bianchi,Marco E.; Kirschning,Carsten; Wagner,Hermann; Manfredi,Angelo A.; Kalden,Joachim R.; Schett,Georg; Rovere-Querini,Patrizia; Herrmann,Martin; Voll,Reinhard E.. Induction of inflammatory and immune responses by HMGB1-nucleosome complexes: implications for the pathogenesis of SLE. Journal of Experimental Medicine 2008;205:3007-3018. (Link)

References: Adolf,G.R.. Antigenic structure of human interferon omega 1 (interferon alpha II1): comparison with other human interferons. J.Gen.Virol. 1987;68 ( Pt 6):1669-1676. (Link)

Grau,G.E.; Roux-Lombard,P.; Gysler,C.; Lambert,C.; Lambert,P.H.; Dayer,J.M.; Guillevin,L.. Serum cytokine changes in systemic vasculitis. Immunology 1989;68:196-198. (Link)

Mazuran,R.; Ikic-Sutlic,M.; Jereb,B.; Stabuc,B.; Krasovec,M.U.; Cerar,O.; Soos,E.. Intrapleural application of natural IFN alpha in breast cancer patients with pleural carcinomatosis. Monitoring of immunotherapy by assaying serum interferon levels. J.Biol.Regul.Homeost.Agents 1992;6:46-52. (Link)

Pestka,S.; Langer,J.A.; Zoon,K.C.; Samuel,C.E.. Interferons and their actions. Annu.Rev.Biochem. 1987;56:727-777. (Link)

Henco,K.; Brosius,J.; Fujisawa,A.; Fujisawa,J.I.; Haynes,J.R.; Hochstadt,J.; Kovacic,T.; Pasek,M.; Schambock,A.; Schmid,J.; .. Structural relationship of human interferon alpha genes and pseudogenes. J.Mol Biol. 1985;185:227-260. (Link)

Chia,Y.W.; Carachi,R.; Armstrong,A.A.; McGarry,G.W.; Carrington,D.. Serum alpha interferon in children with right iliac fossa pain. J.R.Soc.Med. 1993;86:259-260. (Link)

Bernier,J.; Reuter,A.; Vrindts-Gevaert,Y.; Franchimont,P.. Radioimmunoassay of leukocyte (alpha) interferon and its application to some clinical conditions. J.Nucl.Med. 1984;25:765-772. (Link)