Circulating cell-free DNA fragmentation is a stepwise and conserved process linked to apoptosis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) is a pool of short DNA fragments mainly released from apoptotic hematopoietic cells. Nevertheless, the precise physiological process governing the DNA fragmentation and molecular profile of cfDNA remains obscure. To dissect the DNA fragmentation process, we use a human leukemia cell line HL60 undergoing apoptosis to analyze the size distribution of DNA fragments by shallow whole-genome sequencing (sWGS). Meanwhile, we also scrutinize the size profile of plasma cfDNA in 901 healthy human subjects and 38 dogs, as well as 438 patients with six common cancer types by sWGS.

Results

Distinct size distribution profiles were observed in the HL60 cell pellet and supernatant, suggesting fragmentation is a stepwise process. Meanwhile, C-end

SUBMITTER: Zhu D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10642009 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature