Cytokines are a class of highly active, multifunctional, soluble small-molecule proteins secreted by activated immune cells and certain stromal cells. Cytokines are widely involved in various biological functions such as immune response, cell migration, signal transduction through paracrine, autocrine, and endocrine approaches. Cytokine assays can assist in determining the immune function of the body and help in research related to the disease mechanism, diagnosis, and treatment.
Cytokine assays are available in a variety of methods. This infographic describes the principles and characteristics of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), cytometric bead array (CBA), and Luminex xMAP methods that are commonly used for cytokine detection. You can choose the most appropriate assay based on sample size, assay needs, and budget.
