MTT Assay Protocol for Cell Viability and Proliferation

INTRODUCTION

The MTT 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 (3-(4,5-
dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide or MTT) to purple formazan crystals by
metabolically active cells (Figure 1).6,7,35 The viable cells contain NAD(P)H-dependent oxidoreductase
enzymes which reduce the MTT to formazan.36 The insoluble formazan crystals are dissolved using a
solubilization solution and the resulting colored solution is quantified by measuring absorbance at 500-
600 nanometers using a multi-well spectrophotometer. The darker the solution, the greater the number of
viable, metabolically active cells.
This non-radioactive, colorimetric assay system using MTT was first described by Mosmann, T et al. 1 and
improved in subsequent years by several other investigators. 2-6 The Cell Proliferation Kit I (MTT) is an
optimized MTT assay kit containing ready to use reagents, does not need washing steps or additional
reagents. It is a quantitative assay that allows rapid and convenient handling of a high number of
samples. The Cell Proliferation Kit I (MTT) can be used for multiple applications, such as,

 Quantification of cell growth and viability.1,3,5-7

 Measurement of cell proliferation in response to growth factors, cytokines and nutrients. 1-3,6,8-12 (see fig. 3).
 Measurement of cytotoxicity. Examples are the quantification of tumor necrosis factor-a or -b
effects 13,14 (see fig. 2) or macrophage induced cell death15,16 and the assessment of cytotoxic 17-34 or growth
 

inhibiting agents such as inhibitory antibodies.

 To study cell activation.4
 Figure 1.Metabolism of MTT to a formazan salt by viable cells as shown in a chemical reaction (A) and in
a 96-well plate (B).

Kit Components (Catalog No. 11465007001)

MTT Reagent

 Ready to use, non-sterile

 5 vials containing 5 ml MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) (1x), at 5
mg/ml in phosphate buffered saline (PBS, 806552)
 Solubilization Solution

 1x, ready-to-use
 3 bottles with 90 ml.

ASSAY PROTOCOL TO MEASURE CYTOTOXICITY

Additional Reagents Required:

 Culture medium, e.g., RPMI 1640 (R0883) containing 10% heat inactivated FCS (fetal calf serum,
12106C), 2 mM glutamine (G6392) and 1 μg/ml actinomycin C1 (actinomycin D, A9415).
 If an antibiotic is to be used, additionally supplement media with penicillin/streptomycin or gentamicin
 Tumor necrosis factor-α, human (hTNF-α) (10 μg/ml), sterile (T6674).

Protocol:

For the determination of the cytotoxic effect of human tumor necrosis factor-α (hTNF-α, T6674) on WEHI-
164 cells (mouse fibrosarcoma, 87022501) (Figure 2).

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% CO 2.
4. After the incubation period, add 10 μl of the MTT labeling reagent (final concentration 0.5 mg/ml) to each
well.
5. Incubate the microplate for 4 h in a humidified atmosphere (e.g., +37 °C, 5-6.5% CO 2).
6. Add 100 μl of the Solubilization solution into each well.
7. Allow the plate to stand overnight in the incubator in a humidified atmosphere (e.g., +37 °C, 5-6.5%
CO2).
8. Check for complete solubilization of the purple formazan crystals and 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.

Figure 2.Determination of the cytotoxic activity of recombinant human TNF-α (hTNF-α) on WEHI-164
cells (mouse fibrosarcoma) using MTT assay.

ASSAY PROTOCOL TO MEASURE CELL GROWTH

Additional Reagents Required:

Culture medium, e.g., DMEM (D5671) containing 10% heat inactivated FCS (fetal calf serum, 12106C), 2
mM glutamine (G6392), 0.55 mM L-arginine (A8094), 0.24 mM L-asparagine-monohydrate (A4284), 50
μM 2-mercaptoethanol (M3148), HT-media supplement (H0137) (1×), containing 0.1 mM hypoxanthine
and 16 μM thymidine. If an antibiotic is to be used, additionally supplement media with
 penicillin/streptomycin or gentamicin. Interleukin-6, human (hIL-6, SRP3096) (200,000 U/ml, 2 μg/ml)
sterile.

Protocol:

For the determination of human interleukin-6 (hIL-6) activity on 7TD1 cells (mouse-mouse hybridoma,
DSMZ, ACC 23) (see fig. 3).

1. Seed 7TD1 cells at a concentration of 2 × 103 cells/well in 100 μl culture medium containing various
amounts of IL-6 [final concentration e.g., 0.1-10 U/ml (0.001-0.1 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% CO 2.
3. After the incubation period, add 10 μl of the MTT labeling reagent (final concentration 0.5 mg/ml) to each
well.
4. Incubate the microplate for 4 h in a humidified atmosphere (e.g., +37 °C, 5-6.5% CO 2).
5. Add 100 μl of the Solubilization solution into each well.
6. Allow the plate to stand overnight in the incubator in a humidified atmosphere (e.g., +37 °C, 5-6.5%
CO2).
7. Check for complete solubilization of the purple formazan crystals and measure the spectrophotometrical
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.

Figure 3.Proliferation of 7TD1 cells (mouse-mouse hybridoma) in response to recombinant human

interleukin-6 (hIL-6) using MTT assay.

Similar Assays

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

제품 번호 설명 SDS 가격
Actinomycin Dfrom Streptomyces sp., suitable for cell
A9415 확장
culture, ≥95%
L-Argininefrom non-animal source, meets EP, USP
A8094 testing specifications, suitable for cell culture, 98.5- 확장
101.0%
L-Asparagine monohydrateBioReagent, suitable for
A4284 확장
cell culture
11465007001 Cell Proliferation Kit I (MTT) 확장
Dulbecco′s Modified Eagle′s Medium - high
glucoseWith 4500 mg/L glucose and sodium
D5671 bicarbonate, without L-glutamine and sodium pyruvate, 확장
liquid, sterile-filtered, suitable for cell culture, suitable
for hybridoma
Fetal Bovine SerumUSA origin, Heat Inactivated,
12106C 확장
sterile-filtered, suitable for cell culture
L-Glutamineγ-irradiated, BioXtra, suitable for cell
G6392 확장
culture
HT Media Supplement (50×) Hybri-Max™lyophilized
H0137 확장
powder, γ-irradiated, BioXtra, suitable for hybridoma
Interleukin-6 humanAnimal-component free,
SRP3096 recombinant, expressed in E. coli, suitable for cell 확장
culture
2-Mercaptoethanolfor molecular biology, suitable for
M3148 electrophoresis, suitable for cell culture, BioReagent, 확장
99% (GC/titration)
Phosphate Buffered SalinepH 7.4, liquid, sterile-
806552 확장
filtered, suitable for cell culture
RPMI-1640 MediumWith sodium bicarbonate, without
R0883 L-glutamine, liquid, sterile-filtered, suitable for cell 확장
culture
Tumor Necrosis Factor-α humanTNF-α,
T6674 recombinant, expressed in E. coli, powder, suitable for 확장
cell culture

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