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Standardized Data Acquisition for Neuromelanin-Sensitive Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Substantia Nigra

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Plasma circulating free DNA in chronic schizophrenia: a case-control study.

Kamila Meca¹, Łukasz Czogalik², Piotr Lewandowski³

¹Student Science Club, Department of Psychiatry, Medical University of Silesia, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Zabrze, Pyskowicka 49, Tarnowskie Góry, 42-612, Poland. kamilameca01@gmail.com.

Scientific Reports

|May 16, 2026

Summary

Circulating cell-free DNA (cf-DNA) levels in schizophrenia patients are influenced by factors like age, sex, and smoking, not the disease itself. Current findings do not support cf-DNA as a reliable schizophrenia biomarker.

Keywords:

Biomarkers Chronic schizophrenia Circulating free DNA

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Published on: November 19, 2020

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Genetics
Biochemistry

Background:

Circulating cell-free DNA (cf-DNA) is linked to cell injury and inflammation.
The role of cf-DNA in schizophrenia pathophysiology is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate cf-DNA levels in clinically stabilized chronic schizophrenia patients compared to healthy controls.
To explore the association between cf-DNA and schizophrenia symptom severity.

Main Methods:

A case-control study involving 33 schizophrenia patients and 30 healthy volunteers.
Quantification of nuclear (cf-nucDNA) and mitochondrial (cf-mtDNA) cf-DNA using fluorometry and droplet digital PCR (ddPCR).
Statistical analyses adjusted for age, sex, and smoking status.

Main Results:

Unadjusted analyses showed higher cf-nucDNA in patients (p=0.020), but this difference disappeared after adjusting for confounders.
No significant differences in cf-mtDNA between patients and controls were observed.
No association was found between cf-DNA levels and schizophrenia symptom severity.

Conclusions:

cf-DNA levels in this cohort are significantly confounded by demographic and lifestyle factors (age, sex, smoking).
A distinct cf-DNA disease-specific signal for schizophrenia could not be isolated.
Current evidence does not support the clinical use of cf-DNA as a schizophrenia biomarker, despite ddPCR's sensitivity.