Assessment of cell proliferation by means of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay based on the detection of the Ki-67 protein.

A new ELISA system for the estimation of cell proliferation based on the detection of the Ki-67 protein is described. This protein has turned out to be strictly correlated to all active parts of the cell cycle, i.e., G1, S, G2, and mitosis, but is absent in G0. In addition, it is not detectable during DNA repair. In cultures of cell line cells as well as stimulated peripheral blood cells the values obtained with this ELISA system paralleled the [3H]thymidine uptake in different cell cultures. Thus, this assay provides a simple, non-radioactive assessment of proliferation of cultured cells.