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Lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCL) are being actively and extensively used to examine the expression of specific genes and genome-wide expression profiles, including allele specific expression assays. However, it has recently been shown that approximately 10% of human genes exhibit random patterns of monoallelic expression within single clones of LCLs. Consequently allelic imbalance studies could be significantly compromised if bulk populations of donor cells are clonal, or near clonal. Here, using X chromosome inactivation as a readout, we confirm and quantify widespread near monoclonality in two independent sets of cell lines. Consequently, we recommend where possible the use of bulk, non cell line, ex vivo cells for allele specific expression assays.

Original publication

DOI

10.1371/journal.pone.0002966

Type

Journal article

Journal

PLoS One

Publication Date

13/08/2008

Volume

3

Keywords

Blood Cells, Cell Line, Cells, Cultured, Clone Cells, Female, Gene Expression, Humans, Lymphocytes, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Quantitative Trait Loci, RNA, Reference Values