FOCUS Immunology on Pre-Analytical Services

Dr. Eddy Bruyns, FOCUS Immunology, has provided a white paper on FOCUS Immunologies‘ pre-analytical services. He addresses aspects of sample collection, processing and shipment in clinical trials.

He points out procedures that allow cell preparation and transportation for functional analysis in international multi-center trials as well as procedures for collection, transportation and central testing of whole blood sample for flow cytometry.
You may download the white paper here.

Expert Report: Biomarkers of Innate Immunity

Dr. Eddy Bruyns and Dr. Matthias Baumann of FOCUS CDD have summarized information on biomarkers of innate immune system functions. They provide latest information on assay systems for innate immune system parameters (Toll-like receptors [TLR], NOD-like receptors) and the implementation of such assays as PD biomarkers in exploratory clinical studies.

Finally case studies and a compilation of pertinent literature is provided.

To order a complimentary copy of the FOCUS expert report on biomarkers of innate immune system functions enter your email address below and press the submit button:

A detailed complimentary copy of FOCUS’ expert report can be ordered by entering your email address below and pressing the submit button:

“FOCUS Immunology Laboratories Heidelberg” offer testing of biomarkers for immune cell functions tailored to the specific requirements of a given clinical trial.

For further information please contact Dr. Eddy Bruyns at eddy.bruyns(at)focus-cdd.com.

Technical brief: Innate Immunity Testing

Our basic test program for innate immunity testing quantifies the extent to which ligands specific for the nine known human Toll-like receptors (TLR) stimulate peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) isolated from individuals. The degree of stimulation is quantified via the amount of Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) secreted into the culture supernatants.

An example for a typical experiment is given here (click on the image to enlarge view):

PBMC were isolated from the blood of two human volunteers and cultured in the presence of distinct ligands for toll-like receptors (TLR-1 to -9). After a given interval of time the culture supernatants were harvested and tested for the amount of secreted TNF-alpha by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

The ligands and the corresponding TLRs are shown on the X-axis. The Y-axis provides the read-out parameter, i.e. amount of TNF-alpha in the culture supernatants. The left-most sample in both diagrams represents TNF-alpha secretion the unstimulated control culture.

Strongest responses were found for the TLR-4 ligand lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and the TLR 8 ligand single-stranded RNA (ssRNA40). The weak-responding TLR 3, 7 and 9 stimulations are again highlighted in the right hand diagram with a differently-scaled Y-axis in order to demonstrate the above-background response.

Please note, that this basic ex vivo assay design can be adapted to the specific requirements of a given project – be it for immune screening purposes in clinical trials or be it for mode-of-action or PD measurements in compound development.