A microassay for colony-stimulating factor based on thymidine incorporation.

A variety of growth factors and lectins were tested; only colony-stimulating factors CSF-1, Interleukin 3, and a T-lymphocyte GM CSF induced colony formation in semisolid medium and stimulated thymidine incorporation in liquid culture. All other growth factors and lectins were inactive in both assays. Factor-stimulated thymidine incorporation was detectable 24 hours after stimulation and reached maximal levels 4-6 days after stimulation. A convenient microassay for measuring CSF activity has been developed, enabling a large number of samples to be screened qualitatively in 2 days and permitting CSF activity to be measured quantitatively in 4-5 days. This microassay can supplement the clonal-cell assay method and be especially useful as an initial screening assay for CSF activity.