Extensive diagnostic and scientific investigations are often restricte
d by limited availability of material. Therefore, methods like multipl
ex PCR strategies are needed to conserve as much sample as possible. U
nfortunately, the establishment of such procedures poses several diffi
culties. Here we describe the advantages of a new enzyme, AmpliTaq Gol
d(TM) DNA Polymerase, in multiplex and time-release PCR. The applicati
on of this thermostable recombinant Taq DNA polymerase allows the spec
ific amplification of DNA/cDNA targets with very high sensitivity. Wit
h our protocol, the specific amplification of 13 different cDNAs of cy
tokines and cytokine receptors can be realized in three multiplex PCRs
(IL-2R alpha, IL-2/15R beta, gamma(c)-chain, IL-4 and IL-4R alpha; IL
-10, IL-15 and IL-15R alpha; and IL-2, IFN gamma, IL-7, IL-7R alpha an
d IL-9R alpha). The novel application of AmpliTaq Gold DNA Polymerase
in a time-release PCR protocol allows specific amplification of target
DNA/cDNA when only limited amounts of material are available or only
low-copy-number DNA/cDNA is suspected. No IL-9 cDNA can be detected in
peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in the absence of any stimu
lation, thus it was difficult to amplify this target with routine PCR
protocols. Here we demonstrate the reliable and reproducible amplifica
tion of IL-9 cDNA in the Hodgkin's lymphoma cell line KM-H2, in PBMC a
nd in stimulated PBMC. Results with AmpliTaq Gold DNA Polymerase were
more sensitive and specific compared with AmpliTaq(R) DNA Polymerase,
with and without manual hot-start procedure.