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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.
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.
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