Comparative detection and quantitation of human CDK inhibitor mRNA expression of p15INK4B, p16INK4A, p16beta, p18INK4C, p19INK4D, p21WAF1, p27KIP1 and p57KIP2 by RT-PCR using a polycompetitive internal standard.

For comparative and quantitative analysis of human cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor gene expression (CKI; p15INK4B, p16INK4A, p16beta, p18INK4C, p19INK4D, p21WAF1, p27KIP1 and p57KIP2) we set up an RT-PCR assay with a construct termed pCKIquant producing polycompetitive RNA as an internal standard. We demonstrated the reproducibility, accuracy and high sensitivity of the assay in the in vitro model of myeloid leukaemic HL-60 cells. We also showed that the pCKIquant CKI assay is an excellent tool for the assessment of CKI mRNA expression in clinical samples, e.g. single cryostat sections of lymphoma biopsies.