AUTOMATED MAMMALIAN-CELL BIOASSAYS FOR EVALUATING POTENTIAL THERAPEUTIC IMMUNOMODULATOR ANALOGS

Some mammalian cell lines in culture respond to exogenously added immu nomodulators by induction of specific cell surface antigens or secreti on of protein products. These proteins can be detected by immunoassay. The sample preparation and cell dosing steps of such cell based bioas says have been automated using a robotic liquid handling system housed in a containment chamber. These automated bioassays have been in near ly continuous use for over a year. Excellent cell viability has been m aintained, and no contamination has been observed with either adherent or suspension target cell cultures. The cell response to addition of exogenous cytokine was identical when measured by either the automated or the manual assay. Data from triplicate samples evaluated on the sa me microtiter plate showed <5% CV. Using these automated bioassays, th e in vitro efficacy of over 15,000 potential agonists and antagonists has been examined.