A study on serum difference on test results in the human Cell Line Activation Test (h-CLAT): Results of 3^rd Japanese inter-laboratory study

Abstract

The human Cell Line Activation Test (h-CLAT) is an in vitro skin sensitization test based on the enhancement of CD86 and/or CD54 expression on THP-1 cells. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of differences of serum source on the results of h-CLAT. Three different lots of serum, obtained from three sources, were compared with the serum used in the previous Japanese ring study. With each serum, cellular proliferation in subculture, cytotoxicity, and CD86/CD54 expression on THP-1 cells were measured following exposure to two known allergens (dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) and nickel sulfate (Ni)) and one non-allergen (sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS)).
There was no clear difference of cellular proliferation in subculture, cytotoxicity, or CD86/54 expression among cultures in the four sera. Although the source of serum does not appear to influence the resultof h-CLAT, the validity of the test should nevertheless be confirmed when serum from a new source is introduced.