ThiOx Test: Rapid assay to measure thiol antioxidant capacity in cells and tissues

LIMR researchers have developed a fast, accurate and inexpensive assay, the ThiOX test, that measures the overall thiol redox status of any biological specimen.

ThiOX addresses the need for a rapid test to monitor thiol oxidative stress in live cells and tissues.  The stability of free thiol groups and disulfide bonds (dithiols) in proteins is essential to maintain proper protein function that, in turn, is vital for cell and tissue functions and homeostasis. ThiOX quickly and accurately measures the overall level of thiol oxidation in tissues, blood, cells or other biological sources, providing an overall determination of thiol antioxidant capacity in the specimen. The test is based on colorimetric detection of beta-mercaptoethanol produced by metabolic reduction of the added dithiol reporter compound hydroxyethyl disulfide. 

The ThiOX test enables research on the role of thiol oxidation stress in metabolic pathology, but it also provides a tool to study thiol redox status as a biomarker of disease states or clinical responses. This test reveals evidence of a natural variation in thiol antioxidant capacity in humans (1). In applications of this discovery, it may be exploited to enhance therapeutic responses or predict sensitivity to delayed nausea in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy

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