Background Analysis of cell-selective gene expression for families of proteins of therapeutic interest is crucial when deducing the influence of genes upon complex traits and disease susceptibility. Presently, there is no convenient tool for examining isoform-selective expression for large gene families. A multigene isoform profiling strategy was developed and used to investigate the inwardly rectifying K+ (Kir) channel family in human leukocytes. Comprised of seven subfamilies, Kir channels have important roles in setting the resting membrane potential in excitable and non-excitable cells.

      Results
      Gene sequence alignment allowed determination of "islands" of amino acid homology, and sub-family "centred" priming permitted simultaneous co-amplification of each family member. Validation and cross-priming analysis was performed against a panel of cognate Kir channel clones. Radiolabelling and diagnostic restriction digestion of pooled PCR products enabled determination of distinct Kir gene expression profiles in pure populations of human neutrophils, eosinophils and lung mast cells, with conservation of Kir2.0 isoforms amongst the leukocyte subsets. We also identified a Kir2.0 channel product, which may potentially represent a novel family member.


      Conclusions
      We have developed a novel, rapid and flexible strategy for the determination of gene family isoform composition in any cell type with the additional capacity to detect hitherto unidentified family members and verified its application in a study of Kir channel isoform expression in human leukocytes.