Chronic graft-versus-host disease detected by tissue-specific cell-free DNA methylation biomarkers.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Accurate detection of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a major challenge in the management of patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT). Here, we demonstrated the use of circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) for detection of tissue turnover and chronic GVHD (cGVHD) in specific organs.

Methods

We established a cocktail of tissue-specific DNA methylation markers and used it to determine the concentration of cfDNA molecules derived from the liver, skin, lungs, colon, and specific immune cells in 101 patients undergoing HCT.

Results

Patients with active cGVHD showed elevated concentrations of cfDNA, as well as tissue-specific methylation markers that agreed with clinical scores. Strikingly, transplanted patients with no clinical symptoms

SUBMITTER: Avni B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10786696 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature