Detection of stem cell factor mRNA expression in leukemic cells by in situ reverse transcriptase-PCR.

To evaluate the feasibility of detecting low copy stem cell factor (SCF) mRNA in leukemic cells by in situ reverse transcriptase-PCR (RT-PCR). In situ RT-PCR was carried out on PE480 DNA Thermal Cycler to determine the expression of SCF mRNA in K562, HL-60 and chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) cells in blast phase. SCF mRNA was detected in the 3 cell lines by direct or indirect in situ RT-PCR, but not by in situ hybridization. SCF mRNA is present in K562, HL-60 and CML cells in blast phase but with very low expression level which can be detected by in situ RT-PCR carried out on PE480 DNA Thermal Cycler.