title: [Laser microdissection of a single cell from colon tissue for gene analysis].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the method of detecting gene expression in colon tissue at a single cell level.
  
  
  METHODS
  Individual cell(s) were picked up from colon frozen section using laser microdissection. RNA was extracted, reverse transcribed to complementary DNA (cDNA). cDNA was then analyzed by nested reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (nested RT-PCR) using two pairs of primers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Single cell(s) were selectively picked up using an ultraviolet laser micromanipulator. RNA was extracted, reverse transcribed and used for nested RT-PCR. Amplification products of cDNA from down to a single cell could be clearly visualized in the agarose gel.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combined utilization of laser microdissection and nested RT-PCR provides an opportunity to analyze gene expression at single cell(s) level in colon tissue.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Nai-Rong
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Hao-Lin
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Ming-Dong
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Huo
authors.forename: Wen-Hao
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D003106:Colon / Q000166:cytology*; D015870:Gene Expression; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D061346:Laser Capture Microdissection; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D059010:Single-Cell Analysis