Background/aims: Analysis of gene expression is dependent on normalization using housekeeping genes. However, many of these housekeeping genes (e.g. GAPDH, beta-actin) are upregulated in chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer, and cannot be used for normalization. For this reason we tried to identify a housekeeping gene useful for expression analysis in pancreatic diseases.
Methods: RNA isolated from various tissues and states of disease was subjected to reverse transcription and subsequently amplified by PCR using primers for GAPDH and for the ribosomal highly basic 23-kDa (rb 23-kDa, RPL13A) protein.
Results: As anticipated, expression of GAPDH varied markedly in the different tissues, whereas the expression of rb 23-kDa was constant in all samples investigated.
Conclusion: We recommend the use of the ribosomal highly basic 23-kDa protein as a standard for normalization at least for the pancreas and the prostate.
Copyright 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel and IAP