Many of the researchers we speak with are interested in collecting cytokines in EBC. While there are many published studies on this topic, it is difficult to conclude the best way to obtain useful cytokine data. What seems to produce excellent results for one research group often fails to produce similar results with another. There are two likely reasons for this:
- Inconsistency of methodology and controls between groups
- Cytokine levels often near the level of detection of ELISA-based tests
Certainly lyophilization helps improve the signal-to-noise ratio, but more importantly, the analytical method and the controls determine the strength of the results. While LC/MS has the potential for much greater sensitivity, relatively few published studies have explored this due to the somewhat prohibitive cost and infrastructure required to support LC/MS in the lab.
In this series I will be highlighting works-in-progress of different groups. It is my hope to facilitate an exchange of ideas between research groups so that we may together eventually converge on a standardized methodology for cytokine analysis in Exhaled Breath Condensate.
CEA Greonoble (Group #1)
The first of these is CEA Grenoble in Grenoble, France. The presentation in the link below highlights their continuing work in the context of determining the effects of nanoparticle inhalation on exposed workers. Cytokine levels in EBC provides one of their measures in assessing the lung health of workers and the occupational risk of working with nanoparticles.
This is posted here with the permission of the authors, Veronique Mossuz and Caroline Desvergne, and both may be contacted using the emails below:
Veronique Mossuz – veronique.mossuz@cea.fr
Caroline Desvergne – caroline.desvergne@cea.fr
We trust you will find this useful and offer our heartfelt thanks to Veronique and Caroline for allowing us to share this with you.
http://www.nanosafe.org/home/liblocal/docs/Nanosafe%202014/Session%202/02a-5%20-%20Caroline%20DESVERGNE.pdf
In our next post we will discuss research from Virginia Commonwealth University.