ANTI-MIF ANTIBODY CELL MIGRATION ASSAY

1 . Assay method for determining the potency of anti-MIF antibodies, wherein a cell migration is performed, wherein the assay method comprises the following steps:

providing cells which are capable of migration in a first part of a device, wherein the cells comprise MIF,

adding the anti-(ox)MIF antibody to be determined, to a second part of the device, which is configured to be in a connection with the first part of the device which allows cell migration and diffusion, and

calculating inhibition of migration.

2 . Assay method according to claim 1 , wherein the anti-MIF antibodies are anti-oxMIF antibodies, preferably wherein the antibodies are selected from the group consisting of RAB0, RAB4, RAB9, RAM0, RAM4 and/or RAM9, very preferred RAM9.

3 . Assay method according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the device comprises an upper and a lower chamber, which are connected via a separating membrane with pores and in that the cells are added to the upper chamber and in that the antibodies are added to the lower chamber, preferably wherein the device is a two chamber cell migration assay (modified Boyden chamber assay), more preferably a Transwell cell migration assay device.

4 . Assay method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cells are cells which express (ox)MIF, preferably on their cell surface, preferably wherein the cells are cells from disease samples, more preferred wherein the cells are monocytic cells, preferably human monocytic cells, more preferred human immortalized monocytic cells, most preferred U937 cells, or THP-1 human monocytic cells or in an alternative embodiment rat NR 8383 monocytic cells.

5 . Assay method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cells are provided as a cell suspension in a suitable migration medium to allow migration.

6 . Assay method according to claim 5 , wherein the migration medium does not comprise proteins.

7 . Assay method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the antibody is added in a non toxic biological buffer with a moderately weak acid and its conjugate base, preferably a glycine buffer, an N-substituted taurine buffer or a phosphate buffered saline (PBS) buffer, to the second part, e.g. lower chamber, of e.g. the Transwell® chamber.

8 . Assay method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the antibody is added to have a final concentration in the assay of 0.01-100 nM, preferably 0.02 to 50 nM, preferably 0.04-30 nM, preferably as a dilution series

9 . Assay method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the assay, e.g. the Transwell® chamber, is incubated after addition of the cells and the antibody for 6-20 h, preferably 8-12 h, preferably at approximately 37° C., wherein the cells are U937 cells, and wherein the membrane has a pore size of approximately 5 μm.

10 . Assay method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the migrated cells are counted, preferably after the above incubation step, and preferably in the lower chamber, whereupon information about the potency of the tested antibody can be obtained, preferably by calculating the half-maximal inhibiting antibody concentration (IC 50 -value).

11 . Assay method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cells undergo from 10 to 48 h, preferably 8-16, preferably 10-12 h serum starvation before they are used in the assay.

12 . Assay method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cells are derived from a working bank.

13 . Assay method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein no (ox)MIF is added to the device.

14 . Assay kit for determining the potency of anti-(ox)MIF-antibodies, comprising all reagents necessary to carry out the assay method of any one or more of the preceding claims, preferably

cells which express MIF

antibody dilution buffer (e.g. glycine buffer)

migration medium, and/or

Two chamber cell migration system.

15 . Pharmaceutical or diagnostic composition, comprising anti-(ox)MIF antibodies, wherein the anti-(ox)MIF antibodies are characterized in that they have undergone a potency determination, as defined in any one of the precedings claims.