IL-10 detection in murine B cells: pros and cons of the different techniques

Methods Mol Biol. 2014:1190:55-69. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4939-1161-5_5.

Abstract

With the recently increased understanding of the roles of B cells in immune response and autoimmune pathogenesis, various techniques have been used for the detection of IL-10 production in B cells. In this chapter, we describe several commonly used methods for the effective detection of IL-10 in B cells at both mRNA and protein levels, including quantitative PCR analysis, intracellular staining of IL-10 by flow cytometry, ELISA assay for secreted IL-10 detection, and ELISPOT assay of enumerating IL-10-producing B cells. Moreover, we provide a detailed protocol for the detection of IL-10-producing B cells in situ by immunofluorescence microscopy. Together, the application of these described methods for the detection of IL-10 will facilitate the characterization of B cell subsets with regulatory functions and enhance our current understanding on the critical roles of B cells in immune response and autoimmune development.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • B-Lymphocytes / cytology*
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • B-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Cell Separation / methods
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / methods
  • Flow Cytometry / methods
  • Interleukin-10 / analysis*
  • Interleukin-10 / genetics
  • Interleukin-10 / immunology
  • Mice
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence / methods
  • RNA, Messenger / analysis
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods

Substances

  • RNA, Messenger
  • Interleukin-10