MSD Cytokine Multiplex Assays: A Powerful Tool for Analyzing Cytokines

Cytokines and chemokines are signaling molecules secreted by the immune cells. The primary function of these secretory proteins is to coordinate cell growth, differentiation, and proliferation. These biomolecules participate in numerous biological functions, including inflammation, innate and adaptive immunity, angiogenesis, tumorigenesis, immune cell differentiation, and viral pathogenesis. Today, studies have shown that dysregulation in cytokine expression is an underlying cause of several inflammatory and immunological diseases. Hence, having robust platforms such as Meso Scale Discovery multiplex assay for cytokine analysis is crucial for drug development and biomedical advances. The current article discusses the robustness of MSD cytokine multiplex assays for analyzing cytokines and chemokines. 

MSD cytokine multiplex assay

Meso Scale Discovery multiplex assays have a plethora of singleplex and multiplex formats to support cytokine and chemokine studies. The Meso Scale Discovery platform combines electrochemiluminescence detection and multi-array technology to deliver rapid and highly dense results. Besides, the MSD cytokine multiplex assay product line includes a diverse menu of assays as well as reagents and plates for assay development. 

MSD platform is a unique tool for quantifying cytokines and other biomarkers in biological samples. With over 400 different assays and customization capacities, MSD assays can accurately determine different levels of cytokines in complex biological matrices. Besides, they are highly cost-effective and time-efficient. Hence, several major pharmaceutical and biotech companies, clinical research organizations, and government and academic institutions are rapidly adopting MSD’s multi-array technology. 

MSD analysis employs electrochemiluminescence detection using Sulfo-tag labels. These labels emit light after electrochemical stimulation. The generated signal is proportional to the concentration of analytes in the study sample. The electrochemiluminescence feature of the MSD platform has numerous benefits, such as:

• Minimal background disturbance and higher signal-to-background ratios
• Proximity detection enabling non-washed assays
• The flexibility of using stable and non-radioactive labels
• No color quenching issues
• Multiple excitation cycles lead to signal amplification and improved sensitivity
• Custom microplate coatings to facilitate most biological molecules attachment
• Carbon electrodes with 10X greater binding capacities than traditional polystyrene surfaces

Clinical samples are inherently complex. Hence, assessing these complex samples using traditional immunoassays is challenging. Besides a wide range of analyte concentrations, limited biological samples and complex study material such as vaginal fluids and sputum make performing these assays even more difficult. MSD ELISA assays can overcome all these limitations. They have a broader dynamic range, work well in complex biological matrices, have improved sensitivity, and can measure multiple cytokines in a single assay volume. MSD cytokine multiplex assays are well suited for regulated workflows as they are available in IQ/OQ/PQ validation packages and are supported by software with GLP and 21 CFR Part 11 compliance. 

Meso-scale cytokine multiplex assays have numerous advantages over their counterparts. A broader dynamic range helps researchers measure cytokines in diseased and control samples without multiple dilutions. Meso-scale cytokine multiplex assays are highly adaptive and can detect and quantify cytokines in complex biological samples. Besides, multiplexing capacities and higher sensitivity offer cytokine analysis in a single assay volume. Hence, MSD cytokine multiplex assays are a robust and powerful tool for analyzing cytokines and other biomarkers.