title: Investigation of the origin of extracellular RNA in human cell culture.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Molekulare Medizin, Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, D-23538 Lübeck, Germany.
authors.forename: Katrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Böttcher
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wenzel
authors.forename: Jens M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Warnecke
mesh_terms: D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005987:Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012313:RNA / Q000378:metabolism*; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S; D012313:RNA; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D005987:Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenases