Reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction to detect extracellular mRNAs

The presence of extracellular nucleic acids has been reported in serum/plasma from cancer and diabetes patients that may help in disease diagnosis. Taking insulin-producing cells as examples here, RT-PCR was used to investigate a correlation between the presence and amounts of extracellular mRNA(s) and cell mass and/or function. RT-PCR was performed on a range of mRNAs, including Pdx1, Npy, Egr1, Pld1, Chgb, InsI, InsII, and Actb in biological triplicate analyses. Reproducible amplification of these mRNAs from MIN6, MIN6 B1, and Vero-PPI cells and their CM suggests that beta cells transcribe and release these mRNAs into their environment. mRNAs secreted from insulin-producing cells into their extracellular environment may have potential as extracellular biomarkers for assessing beta cell mass and function.