Gene expression assay in blood and various tissues using a single-tube real-time reverse transcription-polymerase...

A single-tube real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method has been developed which makes it possible to conduct the entire procedure, from nucleic acid extraction to product detection, in a single PCR tube. In this study, we developed the method using an oligodeoxythymidine-immobilized PCR tube, which enables simple and rapid mRNA extraction and quantification of target genes in blood and other tissues. The beta-actin gene was analyzed from lysates of blood and various tissues using this method. The data showed a good correlation between the plotted threshold cycle values and log(10) of blood and tissue amounts without a reduction in PCR efficiency. Gene expression of interleukin-1beta in blood from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated rats and of beta(3)-adrenoceptors in adipose tissue from SHRSP.Z-Lepr (fa)/IzmDmcr (obese SHRSP) rats was also analyzed using the single-tube method, as well as a general real-time RT-PCR method, using RNA purified with a silica membrane column. In both methods, the copy number ratio of interleukin-1beta to beta-actin in LPS-stimulated rats was higher than in control rats, and the ratio of beta(3)-adrenoceptors to beta-actin in obese SHRSP rats was lower than in lean littermates. These results indicate that the single-tube method can provide results equivalent to those from general real-time RTPCR methods in gene expression analysis.