Investigation of the Origin of Extracellular RNA in Human Cell Culture

• Published in: Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences Vol. 1075; no. 1; pp. 50 - 56
• Main Authors: BÖTTCHER, KATRIN, WENZEL, ALEXANDER, WARNECKE, JENS M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Malden, USA Blackwell Publishing Inc 01.09.2006
• Subjects: cell culture; Cell Line, Tumor; extracellular RNA; Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenases - genetics; Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenases - metabolism; Humans; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase - genetics; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase - metabolism; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA - metabolism; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S - metabolism; RT-PCR
• ISSN: 0077-8923; 1749-6632
• DOI: 10.1196/annals.1368.006

:  We have used the human ECV 304 cell line to study the origin and fate of extracellular RNA (exRNA) in cell culture. Quantification of different extracellular RNA species using reverse transcription followed by quantitative PCR revealed a prevalent fraction of ribosomal RNAs. Comparison of intracellular and extracellular ribosomal RNA copy numbers allowed the calculation of the number of destroyed cells that would result in the corresponding number of extracellular rRNAs. Interestingly, this number was comparable to the amount of destroyed cells as determined by the measurement of extracellular lactate dehydrogenase activity.