AssayPro—Mouse Stem Cell Facto

Introduction
Stem Cell Factor (SCF) is known as c-Kit receptor ligand, KL, steel factor, or mast cell growth factor and is expressed in fibroblasts, thymus tissue, spleen, testes, placenta, and mast cells. SCF is a cytokine that exists in two forms produced by alternative splicing: a soluble form of approximately 31kDa and a membrane-bound form of approximately 32kDa, lacking the proteolytic site for processing into the soluble form (1 - 4). SCF not only plays an important role in hematopoiesis, reproduction, melanogenesis, and tumor progression, but is also involved in proliferation and differentiation of mast cells. It stimulates mast cell activation in human bronchi and induces smooth muscle cell contraction (5). Both increased expression of SCF and its receptor c-Kit were found in asthma patients (6). During chronic stroke, SCF in combination with granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) treatment can enhance repair of brain damage (7). Blocking SCF-c-kit signaling is sufficient to inhibit lung cancer stem cell proliferation and survival promoted by chemotherapy (8).

Principle of the Assay
The AssayMax Mouse Stem Cell Factor ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) kit is designed for detection of mouse SCF in cell culture supernatant. This assay employs a quantitative sandwich enzyme immunoassay technique that measures mouse SCF in less than 4 hours. A polyclonal antibody specific for mouse SCF has been pre-coated onto a 96-well microplate with removable strips. SCF in standards and samples is sandwiched by the immobilized antibody and the biotinylated polyclonal antibody specific for SCF, which is recognized by a streptavidin-peroxidase conjugate. All unbound material is then washed away and a peroxidase enzyme substrate is added. The color development is stopped and the intensity of the color is measured.