Detection of IL-12 family members p35, Ebi3, and p19 in response to TLR agonists by flow cytometry and ELISA (117.12)

Abstract Myeloid cell-derived, cytokine-mediated signals are critical to the differentiation and maintenance of T helper cell responses. Monocytes, macrophages and dendritic cells are especially instrumental in initiating these responses through secretion of members of the interleukin (IL)-12 family of heterodimeric cytokines. IL-12 and IL-27 are necessary for the differentiation of T helper(h) 1 cells and IL-23 is required for the maturation and maintenance of Th17 cells. The secretion of these cytokines by monocytes, macrophages and dendritic cells is induced by a variety of pathogens, which can affect secretion by the activation of different signaling pathways. Here we use novel intracellular flow cytometry reagents and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to show the effects of different TLR agonists on the secretion of IL-12 family members, including Ebi3, p40, p19 and p35.