Hi guys,
we observed that a specific cytokine is upregulated in tumor samples. We have evidence that tumor microenvironment affects the aberrant overexpression of our cytokine. Is there any assay to identify which is the molecule of the tumor microenvironment (e.g. growth factors, other cytokines or chemokines, ecc...) responsible for inducing the expression of our cytokine of interest?
thanks
Nothing easy or straight forward.
The best place to start is look at what is known currently about induction of the cytokine. If it's been well studied, you should have pathways already worked out. And you can narrow down your field from there.
And are you SURE that it is a secreted protein? It could be a combination of the secreted protein(s) and cell surface molecules.
The best thing to do is find a control that you can compare against. That would be tricky. Maybe another tumor that doesn't enhance the cytokine of interest?
Well, it is a cytokine released by cancer cells, and we want to know what is the factor which induces the expression of our cytokine of interest
Yes, I know. But all cancer cells are derived from a normal cell. And since it's in the microenvironment, I'm assuming you know the cell phenotypes that make up that microenviroment? Depending on the cytokine, sometimes a LOT may be already know about what induces it.
Basically, you need a way to narrow down the field.
Even if you did a 2D gel with GC/MS, you still need a control, or something to copmare it to.
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