Xplore® mRNA Assays for the Quantification of IL-1β and TNF-α mRNA in Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Mouse Macrophages

Because the accurate measurement of a number of cytokine mRNA transcripts provides valuable knowledge about cytokine gene regulation, we have developed the Xplore®assay for the quantification of cytokine mRNA. This microplate-based assay is rapid (under four hours), quantitative over three orders of magnitude and carries no risk of false-positive values from contamination with amplified target. Here, we describe the use of Xplore assays to measure the steady-state mRNA levels of TNF-α and IL-1β produced by mouse WEHI and J774 macrophage-like cell lines.