IFN-α/β Detection Assay Using Sensor Cell Lines

Abstract

Type I interferons (IFN-α/β) play an important role in host resistance to viral infections. Signaling through the JAK-STAT pathway, IFN-α/β stimulates response elements (ISRE) in the promoters of ISG to regulate their expression (reviewed in Reference 2). This method was adapted from InvivoGen to specifically detect and quantify IFN-α/β secreted in response to virus infection. HEK-Blue™ IFN-α/β cells were generated by stably introducing the human STAT2 and IRF9 genes into HEK293 cells to obtain a fully active type I IFN signaling pathway. The activation of this pathway is made detectable by the addition of a reporter gene expressing a secreted embryonic alkaline phosphatase (SEAP) under the control of the ISG54 promoter. ISG54 is a well-known ISG activated through an ISRE-dependent mechanism by type I IFNs.