Circulating cell-free DNA as predictors of Parkinson's disease

Accurate diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease (PD) remains a challenge and robust molecular biomarkers are needed to complement current diagnostic approaches. Circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) represent potential disease biomarkers and this study identifies, verifies and validates serum cfDNAs as diagnostic PD predictors in both drug-naïve and drug-exposed cohorts.

For cfDNA discovery, drug-naïve PD and control serum samples from The Norwegian ParkWest study were subjected to next generation sequencing and copy number analysis. Differential cfDNA levels in PD were confirmed, verified and validated in drug-naïve and drug-exposed (the Adele Smithers Parkinson's Disease Treatment Center) PD cohorts using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assays followed by two-tailed student's t-test, scatter plot, receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves and AUC value analysis.

DNA contig and copy number analysis revealed 5000 nucleotide genome areas representing 16 potential cfDNA regions showing differential levels between PD and control groups. DNA sequencing results were confirmed and verified using qRT-PCR with 13 candidate cfDNA fragments displaying significantly higher levels in drug-naïve PD patients compared to healthy controls. ROC curve analysis demonstrated seven cfDNA fragments with AUC from 0.9 (95 % CI 0.77-1) to 0.93 (95 % CI 0.84-1). Validation studies using drug-exposed PD patients revealed three cfDNA fragments with elevated levels in PD patients compared to controls with AUC from 0.90 (95 % CI 0.79-1) to 0.93 (95 % CI 0.84-1).

Our study demonstrates the potential use of cfDNA molecules as PD predictors in both drug-naïve and drug-exposed PD patients, which may complement current diagnostic practices.