Determination of human anticytokine autoantibody profiles using a particle-based approach

Background Anticytokine autoantibodies cause numerous human diseases, ranging from pure red cell aplasia to acquired immunodeficiencies. Rapid, simple, and affordable detection and monitoring of these antibodies is essential. We sought to develop a standardizable assay that is rapid, sensitive, and specific and able to simultaneously detect multiple anticytokine autoantibodies in small volumes (<10 μl). Methods We conjugated purified human cytokines to commercially available fluorescently labeled microspheres and tested them against sera from well-characterized subjects with at least one high-titer, disease-associated anticytokine autoantibody. Results Cytokine-conjugated microspheres efficiently and rapidly determined plasma concentration and IgG subclass of anticytokine autoantibodies in single or multiplex formats. Conclusion This particle-based multiplex assay can reproducibly characterize anticytokine autoantibodies. This efficient and inexpensive approach to diagnosing and monitoring anticytokine autoantibodies has clinical applications.