Cor Vasa 2008, 50(9):322-327 | DOI: 10.33678/cor.2008.115

Detecting free plasma DNA in transplant medicine. Possibilities and pitfalls

Jaroslav A. Hubáček^1,2,*, Ivan Málek³, Yevgenie Vymětalová³, Romana Bohuslavová^1,2, Miroslav Kocík^3,4

¹ Pracoviště experimentální medicíny, Institut klinické a experimentální medicíny

² Centrum výzkumu chorob srdce a cév

³ Klinika kardiologie, Institut klinické a experimentální medicíny

⁴ IV. interní klinika, Všeobecná fakultní nemocnice a 1. lékařská fakulta Univerzity Karlovy, Praha, Česká republika

Aim of study: To evaluate the possibility of detecting free DNA (as a marker of acute rejection) in the plasma of patients after heart transplantation.

Methods: Using PCR, different genetic markers were analyzed in the plasma of patients undergoing heart transplantation.

Results: Using several genetic markers, we have shown that PCR is not sensitive enough (detecting dilution max ~ 1 : 50) to demonstrate low levels of free plasma DNA of donor origin in cases where forensic markers or diallelic polymorphisms are used. In the tissue of female aortas, Y chromosome-specific DNA was shown to be present in ~ 40% of cases.

Conclusions: Given the low sensitivity of the method used and high prevalence of chimerism, free plasma DNA is -unlikely to be used for routine detection of acute rejection in the near future.

Keywords: Free DNA; PCR; Heart transplantation; Acute rejection

Published: September 1, 2008  Show citation