Platelets contain IL-1 mRNA. The total mRNA of platelets or leukocytes was isolated. These preparations were incubated with (+) or without (−) reverse transcriptase for 1 hour and PCR was performed (35 cycles) for IL-1α, IL-1β, and IL-8 receptor type I (IL-8-R). Samples were run on a 1.3% agarose gel and visualized by UV-transillumination. The expected size of the PCR products are 810, 816, and 589 bp, respectively. A 100-bp ladder was included as marker. Three experiments showed similar results.