Circulating cell-free methylated DNA reveals tissue-specific, cellular damage from radiation treatment.

ABSTRACT: Radiation therapy is an effective cancer treatment, although damage to healthy tissues is common. Here we analyzed cell-free, methylated DNA released from dying cells into the circulation to evaluate radiation-induced cellular damage in different tissues. To map the circulating DNA fragments to human and mouse tissues, we established sequencing-based, cell-type-specific reference DNA methylation atlases. We found that cell-type-specific DNA blocks were mostly hypomethylated and located within signature genes of cellular identity. Cell-free DNA fragments were captured from serum samples by hybridization to CpG-rich DNA panels and mapped to the DNA methylation atlases. In a mouse model, thoracic radiation-induced tissue damage was reflected by dose-dependent increases in lung endothelial and

SUBMITTER: McNamara ME 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10443812 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature