A possibility of all mRNA expression in a human single lymphocyte

Expression of gene transcripts for 16 proteins was investigated in a human single lymphocyte using RT-nested PCR method. Examined mRNAs were for IL-2, CD8, progesterone receptor, parathyroid hormone, gastrin, glucagon, cholecystokinin/pancreozymin, insulin, enkephalin, thyroid stimulating hormone, MUC1, MAGE1, pregnancy-specific beta-1 glycoprotein 4, phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase, beta B3-crystallin and HOX4A. Most of the proteins were thought to be functionally irrelevant to a lymphocyte. All of them were detected in a lymphocyte without exception. The result suggests that there is a possibility of all mRNA expression in a human single cell.