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Published on: October 26, 2017
Molecular analysis of circulating RNA in plasma
Nancy B Y Tsui1, Enders K O Ng, Y M Dennis Lo
1Department of Chemical Pathology, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR.
Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)
|August 19, 2006
Summary
Circulating RNA in plasma and serum can now be detected using sensitive RT-PCR, serving as markers for cancer detection and prenatal diagnosis. This technology enables noninvasive molecular diagnosis and disease monitoring.
Area of Science:
- Molecular diagnostics
- Biomarker discovery
- RNA analysis
Background:
- Circulating RNA in plasma and serum is an emerging area for molecular diagnostics.
- Plasma and serum RNA can function as tumor-specific or fetal-specific markers.
- Low concentrations of RNA in biofluids previously limited detection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the utility of circulating RNA as biomarkers for disease detection.
- To demonstrate the application of sensitive RNA detection techniques for molecular diagnosis.
- To explore the potential of circulating RNA for noninvasive prenatal diagnosis and gene expression profiling.
Main Methods:
- Utilized highly sensitive one-step real-time quantitative reverse-transcription (RT)-polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
- Quantified glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) mRNA in plasma of normal individuals.
- Detected and quantified placenta-derived mRNA species (hPL, betahCG, CRH) in pregnant women's plasma.
Main Results:
- Successfully quantified GAPDH mRNA in plasma.
- Detected and quantified placenta-derived mRNA transcripts in maternal plasma.
- Demonstrated fetal-polymorphism-independent markers for prenatal diagnosis using circulating RNA.
Conclusions:
- Circulating RNA species in plasma and serum are valuable markers for molecular diagnosis.
- One-step, real-time quantitative RT-PCR is a sensitive and practical method for RNA detection.
- This technology facilitates noninvasive prenatal diagnosis and holds potential for cancer and trauma detection and monitoring.
