Detection of Brain-Derived Cell-Free DNA in Plasma.

ABSTRACT: Background: Neuronal loss is a major pathological feature of neurodegenerative diseases. The analysis of plasma cell-free DNA (cfDNA) is an emerging approach to track cell death events in a minimally invasive way and from inaccessible areas of the body, such as the brain. Previous studies showed that DNA methylation (DNAm) profiles can be used to map the tissue of origin of cfDNA and to identify molecules released from the brain upon cell death. The aim of the present study is to contribute to this research field, presenting the development and validation of an assay for the detection of brain-derived cfDNA (bcfDNA). Methods: To identify CpG sites with brain-specific DNAm, we compared brain and non-brain tissues for their chromatin state profiles and genome-wide DNAm data, av

SUBMITTER: Pellegrini C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11592591 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature