Free DNA – new potential analyte in clinical laboratory diagnostics?
نویسنده
چکیده
The existence of cell free DNA in the human circulatory system has been known since the 1950s, however, intensive research in this area has been conducted for the last ten years. This review paper brings a short overview of the existing literature concerning the cell free DNA research in various clinical fields and pathological states and considers the application possibilities of this new analyte in clinical laboratory diagnostics. At the moment, cell free DNA is most widely used for the purpose of non-invasive prenatal diagnosis of fetal sex or fetal RhD status. The recent discovery of epigenetic changes in placental/fetal DNA and the detection of fetal/placental-specific RNAs have made it possible to use this technology in all pregnancies irrespective of the gender of the fetus. With the application of new techniques such as next generation sequencing, digital PCR and mass spectrometry, it is now possible to detect very small amounts of specific DNA in the presence of excess of other nonspecific nucleic acids. Second most probable application is in oncology, where detection and monitoring of tumors is now possible by the detection of tumor-derived nucleic acids. Third promising field for near future implementation of this analyte is transplantation medicine, where free DNA level could serve as a marker of transplant rejection. Before any further utilization of this new biomarker, pre-analytical and analytical aspects of free DNA analysis remain to be standardized. In the field of noninvasive prenatal diagnosis, important ethical, legal and social questions remain to be discussed.
منابع مشابه
Electrochemical aptamer-based biosensors as potential tools for clinical diagnostics
Aptamers are single-stranded DNA and RNA sequences that belong to the group of “functional nucleic acids”, which exhibit both catalytic and receptor properties. Aptamers change their spatial conformation upon binding to a target analyte, and so far more than 200 sequences selective for large variety of molecules such as metal ions, organic dyes, proteins and bacteria cells have been identified....
متن کاملFifty years of molecular (DNA/RNA) diagnostics.
As the journal Clinical Chemistry celebrates its 50th birthday and enters its 51st year, we reflect on recent advances in nucleic acid diagnostics. Although the structure of DNA was also described 50 years ago, only 20 years have past since a practical method of amplifying DNA for the clinical laboratory appeared, well known today as the PCR. Since the advent of PCR, growth in nucleic acid diag...
متن کاملTheranos phenomenon: promises and fallacies.
Recently, spectacular advances in diagnostic technologies, genomics, etc. offer unprecedented opportunities for widespread testing of asymptomatic individuals, in the hope that this testing will unravel early disease signs which could lead to preventative or more effective therapeutic measures. In particular, one commercial organization, Theranos, promises to revolutionize diagnostics by offeri...
متن کاملBringing epigenetics into the diagnostics of the andrology laboratory: challenges and perspectives
Recent studies have shown significant associations of aberrant DNA methylation in spermatozoa with idiopathic male infertility, increased frequency of spontaneous abortions and imprinting disorders. Thus, the analysis of DNA methylation of specific genes in spermatozoa has the potential to become a new valuable diagnostic marker in clinical andrology. This perspective article discusses the curr...
متن کاملIncreased concentrations of cell-free plasma DNA after exhaustive exercise.
Increased Concentrations of Cell-Free Plasma DNA after Exhaustive Exercise, Johanna Atamaniuk, Claudia Vidotto, Harald Tschan, Norbert Bachl, Karl M. Stuhlmeier, and Mathias M. Müller ( Institute of Laboratory Diagnostics, Kaiser Franz Josef Hospital, Vienna, Austria; 2 Institute of Sports Science, Department of Sports and Exercise Physiology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; 3 Ludwig Bol...
متن کامل