Compound Dose-effect and Cellular Toxicity

Secondary screening of hits from a small molecule screening campaign typically involves performing a dose response curve to determine the potency of the hit.  Often these screens are performed with cell-based functional assays. We have recently described an IL-6 secretion assay using HTRF detection technology and the ovarian cancer cell line, SKOV-3. The assay was followed up with cell viability testing using LIVE/DEAD fluorescent probes and fluorescence microscopy. The EGFR inhibitor, AG 1478 was demonstrated to inhibit IL-6 secretion in these cells and a full dose-response curve was generated for the compound which illustrated that the compound had a high potency with an IC₅₀ of about 15 nM. Subsequent LIVE/DEAD analysis illustrated that the compound's apparent potency was augmented by cell toxicity which would similarly be indicative of a reduction in HTRF signal.


Full dose-response of AG 1488 for the inhibition of EGF-induced IL-6 secretion from SKOV-3 cells. Image at top represents a 4x image of SKOV-3 cells using an IC₅₀ dose of AG 1478 which yields 5.5% DEAD cells; Image to the right represents a 4x image of SKOV-3 cells using an AG 1478 dose of 5 µM which yields 94.3% DEAD cells.

These measurements are made possible in the same microplate reader for the first time. The Cytation 3 Cell Imaging Multi-Mode Reader uses PMT-based whole well intensity measurements using spectral filters and dichroic mirrors to provide high sensitivity HTRF detection coupled with automated digital wide-field fluorescence microscopy to provide LIVE/DEAD cell viability determinations. To learn more about the capabilities of the Cytation 3, please visit our website.


By: BioTek Instruments,  Peter Banks, Ph. D., Scientific Director