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HomeCell Counting & Health AnalysisProtocol Guide: XTT Assay for Cell Viability and Proliferation

Protocol Guide: XTT Assay for Cell Viability and Proliferation

Introduction

The Cell Proliferation Kit II (XTT) (Product No. 11465015001) is a colorimetric assay for the nonradioactive quantification of cellular proliferation, viability, and cytotoxicity. Sample material is either adherent or suspension cells cultured in 96-well microplates. The non-radioactive, colorimetric assay system using XTT (sodium 3´-[1- (phenylaminocarbonyl)- 3,4- tetrazolium]-bis (4-methoxy6-nitro) benzene sulfonic acid hydrate) was first described by Scudiero, P.A. et al.1, 2 and improved in subsequent years by several other investigators.3, 4 The XTT assay is used to measure cellular metabolic activity as an indicator of cell viability, proliferation and cytotoxicity. This colorimetric assay is based on the reduction of a yellow tetrazolium salt (sodium 3´-[1- (phenylaminocarbonyl)- 3,4- tetrazolium]-bis (4-methoxy6-nitro) benzene sulfonic acid hydrate or XTT) to an orange formazan dye by metabolically active cells (Figure 1).5 The formazan dye formed is soluble in aqueous solutions and is directly quantified using a scanning multiwell spectrophotometer (ELISA reader). An increase in number of living cells results in an increase in the overall activity of mitochondrial dehydrogenases in the sample. This increase directly correlates to the amount of orange formazan formed, as monitored by the absorbance (Figure 2).

It is used for the measurement of cell proliferation in response to growth factors, cytokines and nutrients (Figure 2). It is also used for the measurement of cytotoxicity, like the quantification of tumor necrosis factor α- or β- effects (Figure 3) or the assessment of cytotoxic or growth inhibiting agents such as inhibitory antibodies.

XTT & Fomazan
Metabolism of XTT to a water-soluble orange colored formazan salt by viable cells

Figure 1.Metabolism of XTT to a water-soluble orange colored formazan salt by viable cells. Schematic of an XTT assay plate.

Kit Components for The Cell Proliferation Kit II (XTT) (Product No. 11465015001)

XTT Reagent

  • 5 vials containing 25 mL XTT (sodium 3´-[1- (phenylaminocarbonyl)- 3,4- tetrazolium]-bis (4-methoxy6-nitro) benzene sulfonic acid hydrate) at 1 mg/mL in RPMI 1640

Electron-coupling reagent

  • 5 x 0.5 mL PMS (N-methyl dibenzopyrazine methyl sulfate)

Preparation of XTT labeling mixture

  • Thaw XTT labeling reagent and electron-coupling reagent in a water bath at 37 °C. Mix each vial thoroughly to obtain a clear solution.
  • To perform a cell proliferation assay (XTT) with one microplate (96 wells) mix 5 mL XTT labeling reagent with 0.1 mL electron coupling reagent.
    Note:
    To obtain reliable results thaw and mix XTT labeling reagent and electron coupling reagent immediately before use.

Assay Protocol to Measure Cell Growth

For the determination of human interleukin-6 (hIL-6) activity on 7TD1 cells (mouse-mouse hybridoma, DSMZ, ACC 23) (Figure 2).

Additional reagents required:

  • Culture medium, e.g., DMEM (Product No. D5671) containing 10% heat inactivated FBS (fetal bovine serum, Product No. 12106C), 2 mM glutamine (Product No. G6392), 0.55 mM L-arginine (Product No. A8094), 0.24 mM L-asparagine-monohydrate (Product No. A4284), 50 μM 2-mercaptoethanol (Product No. M3148), HT-media supplement (Product No. H0137) (1X), containing 0.1 mM hypoxanthine and 16 μM thymidine.
  • Interleukin-6, human (hIL-6, Product No. SRP3096) (200,000 U/ml, 2 μg/mL) sterile.
  • If an antibiotic is to be used, additionally supplement media with penicillin/streptomycin or gentamicin.

Protocol:

  1. Seed 7TD1 cells at a concentration of 4 × 103 cells/well in 100 μL culture medium containing various amounts of IL-6 [final concentration e.g., 0.1–10 U/mL (0.001– 1 ng/mL)] into microplates (tissue culture grade, 96 wells, flat bottom).
  2. Incubate cell cultures for 4 days at +37°C and 5 - 6.5% CO2.
  3. Add 50 µL XTT labeling mixture per well and incubate for 4 h at 37 °C and 5 - 6.5% CO2.
  4. Measure the spectrophotometrical absorbance of the samples using a microplate (ELISA) reader. The wavelength to measure absorbance of the formazan product is between 450-500 nm according to the filters available for the ELISA reader, used. The reference wavelength should be more than 650 nm.
Proliferation of 7TD1 cells

Figure 2.Proliferation of 7TD1 cells (mouse-mouse hybridoma) in response to recombinant human interleukin-6 (hIL-6) using XTT assay.

Assay Protocol to Measure Cytotoxicity

To determine the cytotoxic effects of human tumor necrosis factor-α (hTNF-α, T6674) on WEHI-164 cells (mouse fibrosarcoma, Product No. 87022501) (Figure 3).

Additional reagents required:

  • Culture medium (e.g., RPMI 1640, Product No. R0883) containing 10% heat inactivated fetal bovine serum (FBS, Product No. 12106C), 2 mM glutamine (Product No. G6392) and 1 μg/mL actinomycin C1 (actinomycin D, Product No. A9415).
  • Tumor necrosis factor-α, human (hTNF-α, Product No. T6674) (10 μg/mL), sterile.
  • If an antibiotic is to be used, additionally supplement media with penicillin/streptomycin or gentamicin

Protocol:

  1. Preincubate WEHI-164 cells at a concentration of 1 × 106 cells/ml in culture medium with 1 μg/ ml actinomycin C1 for 3 h at 37°C and 5 - 6.5% CO2.
  2. Seed cells at a concentration of 5 × 104 cells/ well in 100 μL culture medium containing 1 μg/mL actinomycin C1 and various amounts of hTNF-α (final concentration e.g., 0.001–0.5 ng/mL) into microplates (tissue culture grade, 96 wells, flat bottom).
  3. Incubate cell cultures for 24 h at +37°C and 5 - 6.5% CO2.
  4. Add 50 μl of the XTT labeling mixture and incubate for 18 h at 37°C and 5 - 6.5% CO2.
  5. Measure the absorbance of the samples using a microplate (ELISA) reader. The wavelength to measure absorbance of the formazan product is between 550 and 600 nm according to the filters available for the ELISA reader, used. The reference wavelength should be more than 650 nm.
Determination of the cytotoxic activity of recombinant human TNF-α (hTNF-α) on WEHI-164 cells (mouse fibrosarcoma) using XTT assay

Figure 3.Determination of the cytotoxic activity of recombinant human TNF-α (hTNF-α) on WEHI-164 cells (mouse fibrosarcoma) using XTT assay

Similar Assays

MTT assay and WST-1 assay can also be used for measuring cell viability and proliferation.

Materials
Product NumberProduct NameProduct DescriptionPricing
A9415放线菌素Dfrom Streptomyces sp., suitable for cell culture, ≥95%
A8094L-精氨酸from non-animal source, meets EP, USP testing specifications, suitable for cell culture, 98.5-101.0%
A4284L-天冬酰胺 一水合物BioReagent, suitable for cell culture
11465015001细胞增殖试剂盒II(XTT)liquid, pkg of 1 kit, suitable for cell analysis, suitable for tissue culture
D5671杜氏改良 Eagle 培养基 - 高葡萄糖With 4500 mg/L glucose and sodium bicarbonate, without L-glutamine and sodium pyruvate, liquid, sterile-filtered, suitable for cell culture, suitable for hybridoma
12106C胎牛血清USA origin, Heat Inactivated, sterile-filtered, suitable for cell culture
G6392L-谷氨酰胺γ-irradiated, BioXtra, suitable for cell culture
H0137Hybri-Max™ HT培养基补充物 (50×)lyophilized powder, γ-irradiated, BioXtra, suitable for hybridoma
SRP3096人体白细胞介素-6Animal-component free, recombinant, expressed in E. coli, suitable for cell culture
M31482-巯基乙醇for molecular biology, suitable for electrophoresis, suitable for cell culture, BioReagent, 99% (GC/titration)
806552磷酸缓冲盐pH 7.4, liquid, sterile-filtered, suitable for cell culture
R0883RPMI-1640 培养基With sodium bicarbonate, without L-glutamine, liquid, sterile-filtered, suitable for cell culture
T6674肿瘤坏死因子-α 人TNF-α, recombinant, expressed in E. coli, powder, suitable for cell culture

References

1.
Paull KD, Shoemaker RH, Boyd MR, Parsons JL, Risbood PA, Barbera WA, Sharma MN, Baker DC, Hand E, Scudiero DA, et al. 1988. The synthesis of XTT: A new tetrazolium reagent that is bioreducible to a water-soluble formazan. 25(3):911-914. https://doi.org/10.1002/jhet.5570250340
2.
Scudiero PA. 1988. Cancer Res. et al. 48, 4827–4833
3.
Weislow OS, Kiser R, Fine DL, Bader J, Shoemaker RH, Boyd MR. 1989. New Soluble-Formazan Assay for HIV-1 Cytopathic Effects: Application to High-Flux Screening of Synthetic and Natural Products for AIDS-Antiviral Activity. 81(8):577-586. https://doi.org/10.1093/jnci/81.8.577
4.
Roehm NW, Rodgers GH, Hatfield SM, Glasebrook AL. 1991. An improved colorimetric assay for cell proliferation and viability utilizing the tetrazolium salt XTT. Journal of Immunological Methods. 142(2):257-265. https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-1759(91)90114-u
5.
Gerlier D, Thomasset N. 1986. Use of MTT colorimetric assay to measure cell activation. Journal of Immunological Methods. 94(1-2):57-63. https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-1759(86)90215-2
6.
Jost L, Kirkwood J, Whiteside T. 1992. Improved short- and long-term XTT-based colorimetric cellular cytotoxicity assay for melanoma and other tumor cells. Journal of Immunological Methods. 147(2):153-165. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0022-1759(12)80003-2
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