Evaluation of Several Parameters of in situ Polymerase Chain Reaction (ISPCR) to Reduce the Leakage of Amplificants from Cells

Proviral DNAs from HIV-1-infected CD4+ T cells (Molt/LAV cells) were amplified and detected in infected individual cells using polymerase chain reaction and in rifu hybridization. In this in situ PCR, three parameters were considered to achieve effective amplification and retention of amplificants inside the cells by making high molecular weight PCR products intracellularly, forming agarose matrix against the cells, and maintaining the appropriate PCR temperature profile. Over the cycles of ampliHcationl tailed primers with complementary overhanging sequences at their 5' sides manufactured high molecular weight products by using short primary products as a repeating unit. Agarose matrix could prevent the diffusion of the amplificants from the cells. Use of Thermanox coverslip inside the PCR tube offered target cells a similar temperature profile to that of conventional PCR in solution.