PCR in situ hybridisation detection of HPV 16 in fixed CaSki and fixed SiHa cell lines

• Published in: Journal of clinical pathology Vol. 47; no. 10; pp. 933 - 938
• Main Authors: O'Leary, J J, Browne, G, Johnson, M I, Landers, R J, Crowley, M, Healy, I, Street, J T, Pollock, A M, Lewis, F A, Andrew, A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Association of Clinical Pathologists 01.10.1994; BMJ; BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subjects: Base Sequence; Biological and medical sciences; Cell Line; DNA Primers; DNA, Viral - analysis; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genetics; Humans; In Situ Hybridization - methods; Microbiology; Molecular Sequence Data; Papillomaviridae - genetics; Paraffin Embedding; Polymerase Chain Reaction - methods; Sensitivity and Specificity; Tissue Fixation; Virology; Papillomavirus; Virus; Polymerase chain reaction; Cell culture; Molecular hybridization; Human papillomavirus 16; Virological exploration; Papovaviridae; Molecular biology; Medical screening; In vitro
• ISSN: 0021-9746; 1472-4146
• DOI: 10.1136/jcp.47.10.933

AIMS--To investigate the feasibility of using fixed cells with the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in situ hybridisation and to investigate possible reasons for reaction failure. METHODS--Fixed SiHa and CaSki cells were used in an experimental model of PCR in situ hybridisation for the detection of low and intermediate copy number viral infection in fixed cells. RESULTS--PCR in situ hybridisation was able to detect one to two copies of human papillomavirus (HPV) 16 in SiHa cells, using small fragment amplicons (120 base pairs), confirming the high detection sensitivity and flexibility of the technique. Problems were encountered with localisation of PCR amplified product in CaSki cells (200-300 copies of HPV 16 per cell) owing to diffusion of product post amplification. Overall, 40% of reactions were successful, which confirms the current unreliability of the technique. Within cell preparations, about 50% of cells contained amplified product. CONCLUSION--PCR in situ hybridisation represents the marriage of two revolutionary molecular pathological techniques. However, it is currently unreliable, with reaction failure common. Standardised, dedicated equipment is urgently required if the technique is to achieve universal acceptance. In the future, the technique may be used to detect chromosomal translocations in human tumours and to study cellular gene expression.