C. Vandevyver et al., QUANTIFICATION OF CYTOKINE MESSENGER-RNA EXPRESSION BY RT-PCR AND ELECTROCHEMILUMINESCENCE, PCR methods and applications, 5(2), 1995, pp. 195-201
Variable gene expression constitutes a major mechanism for controlling
cell development and cell function. To investigate these changed mRNA
levels, a sensitive and quantitative assay is required. We describe a
quick and easy method to quantify specific mRNAs by a combination of
PCR and an electrochemiluminescent (ECL) detection of the amplified pr
oducts. Total cellular RNA is reverse-transcribed and amplified with a
biotinylated forward primer and a Tris (2,2'-bipyvidine) ruthenium (I
I) (TBR)-labeled reverse primer. The amplification product is captured
on streptavidin-coated paramagnetic beads and quantified by ECL detec
tion using the QPCR system 5000. The results can be converted to quant
itative values with an external standard curve. This method permits ac
curate and reliable quantitation of cytokine mRNA expression.