New blood test may detect multiple diseases by analyzing cell death/methylation
Q. Scientists have developed a new blood test that may detect multiple diseases. It is based on- Published on 18 Mar 16a. Cell Death
b. Cell growth
c. Cell maturity
d. None of the above
ANSWER: Cell Death
- Scientists have developed a new blood test that may detect multiple diseases, including diabetes, cancer, traumatic injury and neurodegeneration, in a highly sensitive and specific manner.
- The novel method infers cell death in specific tissue from the methylation patterns of circulating DNA that is released by dying cells.
- However to date, it is not possible to measure cell death in specific human tissues non-invasively.
- The new blood test detects cell death in specific tissues by combining two important biological principles. First, dying cells release fragmented DNA to the circulation, where it travels for a short time. The second principle is that the DNA of each cell type carries a unique chemical modification called methylation.
- Methylation patterns of DNA account for the identity of cells (the genes that they express), are similar among different cells of the same type and among individuals, and are stable in healthy and disease conditions.
- The researchers have identified multiple DNA sequences that are methylated in a tissue-specific manner, and can serve as biomarkers for the detection of DNA derived from each tissue.
- They then developed a method to detect these methylated patterns in DNA circulating in blood, and demonstrated its utility for identifying the origins of circulating DNA in different human pathologies, as an indication of cell death in specific tissues.
- They were able to detect evidence for pancreatic beta-cell death in the blood of patients with new-onset type 1 diabetes, oligodendrocyte death in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis, brain cell death in patients after traumatic or ischemic brain damage, and exocrine pancreas cell death in patients with pancreatic cancer or pancreatitis.
