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Li Y, Ye J, Liang L, Tan X, Zheng L, Qin T, Yu L. Detection of α-thalassemia South-East Asian deletion based on a fully integrated digital polymerase chain reaction system DropXpert S6. Hematology 2024; 29:2365596. [PMID: 38864494 DOI: 10.1080/16078454.2024.2365596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study aimed to establish a droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) assay for South-East Asian (SEA) deletion based on a fully integrated digital PCR system DropXpert S6. METHODS A total of 151 whole blood samples, 10 chorionic villus samples, and 17 amniotic fluid samples were collected, including 106 SEA heterozygotes, 43 normal individuals, 10 Hb Bart's hydrops details, and 19 SEA deletions combined with other genotypes.Genotypes of these samples were determined by the Gap-PCR method. We perform a series of optimizations of the ddPCR system to ensure the performance of the entire ddPCR reaction, such as droplet stability, fluorescence clustering, sensitivity, and accuracy. RESULTS Our assay exhibited 99.4% (177/178) accuracy compared with the Gap-PCR method, and the minimum detection limit of DNA was 0.1 ng/μL.Both targets have reliable linearity, R2 = 0.9999 for the α-thalassemia SEA deletion allele and R2 = 1 for the wild-type allele. The coefficient of variation for α-thalassemia SEA deletion allele detection at 2 and 10 ng/μL concentrations was 5.42% and 1.91%, respectively. In contrast, the coefficient of variation for wild-type allele detection was 4.06% and 1.83%, demonstrating its high quantitative accuracy. In addition, the DropXpert S6 PCR system showed some advantages over other ddPCR instruments, such as reducing testing costs, simplifying and automating the workflow. CONCLUSIONS The DropXpert S6 PCR system provided a highly accurate diagnosis for α-thalassemia SEA deletion and can be used to detect α-thalassemia as an alternative method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youqiong Li
- Center for Medical Genetics and Prenatal Diagnosis, People's Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, People's Republic of China
| | - Junwei Ye
- Research and Development Department, Shenzhen Biorain Technology Co., Ltd, Shenzhen, People's Republic of China
| | - Liang Liang
- Center for Medical Genetics and Prenatal Diagnosis, People's Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiao Tan
- Research and Development Department, Shenzhen Biorain Technology Co., Ltd, Shenzhen, People's Republic of China
| | - Lihong Zheng
- Center for Medical Genetics and Prenatal Diagnosis, People's Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, People's Republic of China
| | - Ting Qin
- Center for Medical Genetics and Prenatal Diagnosis, People's Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, People's Republic of China
| | - Linfen Yu
- Research and Development Department, Shenzhen Biorain Technology Co., Ltd, Shenzhen, People's Republic of China
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Gao B, Jiang Y, Han M, Ji X, Zhang D, Wu L, Gao X, Huang S, Zhao C, Su Y, Yang S, Zhang X, Liu N, Han L, Wang L, Ren L, Yang J, Wu J, Yuan Y, Dai P. Targeted Linked-Read Sequencing for Direct Haplotype Phasing of Parental GJB2/SLC26A4 Alleles: A Universal and Dependable Noninvasive Prenatal Diagnosis Method Applied to Autosomal Recessive Nonsyndromic Hearing Loss in At-Risk Families. J Mol Diagn 2024; 26:638-651. [PMID: 38663495 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmoldx.2024.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Noninvasive prenatal diagnosis (NIPD) for autosomal recessive nonsyndromic hearing loss (ARNSHL) has been rarely reported until recent years. Additionally, the existing method can not be used for challenging genome loci (eg, copy number variations, deletions, inversions, or gene recombinants) or on families without proband genotype. This study assessed the performance of relative haplotype dosage analysis (RHDO)-based NIPD for identifying fetal genotyping in pregnancies at risk of ARNSHL. Fifty couples carrying pathogenic variants associated with ARNSHL in either GJB2 or SLC26A4 were recruited. The RHDO-based targeted linked-read sequencing combined with whole gene coverage probes was used to genotype the fetal cell-free DNA of 49 families who met the quality control standard. Fetal amniocyte samples were genotyped using invasive prenatal diagnosis (IPD) to assess the performance of NIPD. The NIPD results showed 100% (49/49) concordance with those obtained through IPD. Two families with copy number variation and recombination were also successfully identified. Sufficient specific informative single-nucleotide polymorphisms for haplotyping, as well as the fetal cell-free DNA concentration and sequencing depth, are prerequisites for RHDO-based NIPD. This method has the merits of covering the entire genes of GJB2 and SLC26A4, qualifying for copy number variation and recombination analysis with remarkable sensitivity and specificity. Therefore, it has clinical potential as an alternative to traditional IPD for ARNSHL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Gao
- Senior Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, The 6th Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Chinese PLA Medical School, Beijing, China; State Key Laboratory of Hearing and Balance Science, Beijing, China; National Clinical Research Center for Otolaryngologic Diseases, Beijing, China; Key Laboratory of Hearing Science, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Hearing Impairment Prevention and Treatment, Beijing, China
| | - Yi Jiang
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Ear Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine on Ear and Nose Diseases, Shanghai, China
| | - Mingyu Han
- Senior Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, The 6th Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Chinese PLA Medical School, Beijing, China; State Key Laboratory of Hearing and Balance Science, Beijing, China; National Clinical Research Center for Otolaryngologic Diseases, Beijing, China; Key Laboratory of Hearing Science, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Hearing Impairment Prevention and Treatment, Beijing, China
| | | | - Dejun Zhang
- Senior Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, The 6th Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Chinese PLA Medical School, Beijing, China; State Key Laboratory of Hearing and Balance Science, Beijing, China; National Clinical Research Center for Otolaryngologic Diseases, Beijing, China; Key Laboratory of Hearing Science, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Hearing Impairment Prevention and Treatment, Beijing, China
| | - Lihua Wu
- Department of Otolaryngology, Fujian Medical University ShengLi Clinical College, Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Xue Gao
- Department of Otolaryngology, PLA Rocket Force Characteristic Medical Center, Beijing, China
| | - Shasha Huang
- Senior Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, The 6th Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Chinese PLA Medical School, Beijing, China; State Key Laboratory of Hearing and Balance Science, Beijing, China; National Clinical Research Center for Otolaryngologic Diseases, Beijing, China; Key Laboratory of Hearing Science, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Hearing Impairment Prevention and Treatment, Beijing, China
| | - Chaoyue Zhao
- Senior Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, The 6th Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Chinese PLA Medical School, Beijing, China; State Key Laboratory of Hearing and Balance Science, Beijing, China; National Clinical Research Center for Otolaryngologic Diseases, Beijing, China; Key Laboratory of Hearing Science, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Hearing Impairment Prevention and Treatment, Beijing, China
| | - Yu Su
- Senior Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, The 6th Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Chinese PLA Medical School, Beijing, China; State Key Laboratory of Hearing and Balance Science, Beijing, China; National Clinical Research Center for Otolaryngologic Diseases, Beijing, China; Key Laboratory of Hearing Science, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Hearing Impairment Prevention and Treatment, Beijing, China
| | - Suyan Yang
- Senior Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, The 6th Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Chinese PLA Medical School, Beijing, China; State Key Laboratory of Hearing and Balance Science, Beijing, China; National Clinical Research Center for Otolaryngologic Diseases, Beijing, China; Key Laboratory of Hearing Science, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Hearing Impairment Prevention and Treatment, Beijing, China
| | - Xin Zhang
- Senior Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, The 6th Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Chinese PLA Medical School, Beijing, China; State Key Laboratory of Hearing and Balance Science, Beijing, China; National Clinical Research Center for Otolaryngologic Diseases, Beijing, China; Key Laboratory of Hearing Science, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Hearing Impairment Prevention and Treatment, Beijing, China
| | - Na Liu
- MyGenostics Inc., Beijing, China
| | - Lu Han
- MyGenostics Inc., Beijing, China
| | | | - Lina Ren
- MyGenostics Inc., Beijing, China
| | - Jinyuan Yang
- Senior Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, The 6th Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Chinese PLA Medical School, Beijing, China; State Key Laboratory of Hearing and Balance Science, Beijing, China; National Clinical Research Center for Otolaryngologic Diseases, Beijing, China; Key Laboratory of Hearing Science, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Hearing Impairment Prevention and Treatment, Beijing, China
| | - Jian Wu
- MyGenostics Inc., Beijing, China
| | - Yongyi Yuan
- Senior Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, The 6th Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Chinese PLA Medical School, Beijing, China; State Key Laboratory of Hearing and Balance Science, Beijing, China; National Clinical Research Center for Otolaryngologic Diseases, Beijing, China; Key Laboratory of Hearing Science, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Hearing Impairment Prevention and Treatment, Beijing, China.
| | - Pu Dai
- Senior Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, The 6th Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Chinese PLA Medical School, Beijing, China; State Key Laboratory of Hearing and Balance Science, Beijing, China; National Clinical Research Center for Otolaryngologic Diseases, Beijing, China; Key Laboratory of Hearing Science, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Hearing Impairment Prevention and Treatment, Beijing, China.
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Gambari R, Waziri AD, Goonasekera H, Peprah E. Pharmacogenomics of Drugs Used in β-Thalassemia and Sickle-Cell Disease: From Basic Research to Clinical Applications. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4263. [PMID: 38673849 PMCID: PMC11050010 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25084263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2024] [Revised: 03/30/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
In this short review we have presented and discussed studies on pharmacogenomics (also termed pharmacogenetics) of the drugs employed in the treatment of β-thalassemia or Sickle-cell disease (SCD). This field of investigation is relevant, since it is expected to help clinicians select the appropriate drug and the correct dosage for each patient. We first discussed the search for DNA polymorphisms associated with a high expression of γ-globin genes and identified this using GWAS studies and CRISPR-based gene editing approaches. We then presented validated DNA polymorphisms associated with a high HbF production (including, but not limited to the HBG2 XmnI polymorphism and those related to the BCL11A, MYB, KLF-1, and LYAR genes). The expression of microRNAs involved in the regulation of γ-globin genes was also presented in the context of pharmacomiRNomics. Then, the pharmacogenomics of validated fetal hemoglobin inducers (hydroxyurea, butyrate and butyrate analogues, thalidomide, and sirolimus), of iron chelators, and of analgesics in the pain management of SCD patients were considered. Finally, we discuss current clinical trials, as well as international research networks focusing on clinical issues related to pharmacogenomics in hematological diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Gambari
- Center “Chiara Gemmo and Elio Zago” for the Research on Thalassemia, Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Ferrara University, 40124 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Aliyu Dahiru Waziri
- Department of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital Zaria, Kaduna 810001, Nigeria;
| | - Hemali Goonasekera
- Department of Anatomy, Genetics and Biomedical Informatics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Colombo P.O. Box 271, Sri Lanka;
| | - Emmanuel Peprah
- Implementing Sustainable Evidence-Based Interventions through Engagement (ISEE) Lab, Department of Global and Environmental Health, School of Global Public Health, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA;
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Chaemsaithong P, Luewan S, Taweevisit M, Chiangjong W, Pongchaikul P, Thorner PS, Tongsong T, Chutipongtanate S. Placenta-Derived Extracellular Vesicles in Pregnancy Complications and Prospects on a Liquid Biopsy for Hemoglobin Bart's Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:5658. [PMID: 36982732 PMCID: PMC10055877 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24065658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2023] [Revised: 02/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nano-scaled vesicles released from all cell types into extracellular fluids and specifically contain signature molecules of the original cells and tissues, including the placenta. Placenta-derived EVs can be detected in maternal circulation at as early as six weeks of gestation, and their release can be triggered by the oxygen level and glucose concentration. Placental-associated complications such as preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction, and gestational diabetes have alterations in placenta-derived EVs in maternal plasma, and this can be used as a liquid biopsy for the diagnosis, prediction, and monitoring of such pregnancy complications. Alpha-thalassemia major ("homozygous alpha-thalassemia-1") or hemoglobin Bart's disease is the most severe form of thalassemia disease, and this condition is lethal for the fetus. Women with Bart's hydrops fetalis demonstrate signs of placental hypoxia and placentomegaly, thereby placenta-derived EVs provide an opportunity for a non-invasive liquid biopsy of this lethal condition. In this article, we introduced clinical features and current diagnostic markers of Bart's hydrops fetalis, extensively summarize the characteristics and biology of placenta-derived EVs, and discuss the challenges and opportunities of placenta-derived EVs as part of diagnostic tests for placental complications focusing on Bart's hydrop fetalis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piya Chaemsaithong
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Suchaya Luewan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiangmai University, Chiangmai 50200, Thailand
| | - Mana Taweevisit
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
- King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital and Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Wararat Chiangjong
- Pediatric Translational Research Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Pisut Pongchaikul
- Chakri Naruebodindra Medical Institute, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Samut Prakan 10540, Thailand
- Integrative Computational BioScience Center, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom 73170, Thailand
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool CH64 7TE, UK
| | - Paul Scott Thorner
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S1A8, Canada
| | - Theera Tongsong
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiangmai University, Chiangmai 50200, Thailand
| | - Somchai Chutipongtanate
- Division of Epidemiology, Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
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Wang M, Cai J, Chen J, Liu J, Geng X, Yu X, Yang J. PCR Techniques and Their Clinical Applications. POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION [WORKING TITLE] 2023. [DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.110220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
Kary B. Mullis developed a revolutionary method name polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in 1983, which can synthesize new strand of DNA complementary to the template strand of DNA and produce billions of copies of a DNA fragment only in few hours. Denaturation, annealing, and extension are the three primary steps involved in the PCR process, which generally requires thermocyclers, DNA template, a pair of primers, Taq polymerase, nucleotides, buffers, etc. With the development of PCR, from traditional PCR, quantitative PCR, to next digital PCR, PCR has become a powerful tool in life sciences and medicine. Applications of PCR techniques for infectious diseases include specific or broad-spectrum pathogen detection, assessment and surveillance of emerging infections, early detection of biological threat agents, and antimicrobial resistance analysis. Applications of PCR techniques for genetic diseases include prenatal diagnosis and screening of neonatal genetic diseases. Applications of PCR techniques for cancer research include tumor-related gene detection. This chapter aimed to discuss about the different types of PCR techniques, including traditional PCR, quantitative PCR, digital PCR, etc., and their applications for rapid detection, mutation screen or diagnosis in infectious diseases, inherited diseases, cancer, and other diseases.
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Shaw J, Scotchman E, Paternoster B, Ramos M, Nesbitt S, Sheppard S, Snowsill T, Chitty LS, Chandler N. Non-invasive fetal genotyping for maternal alleles with droplet digital PCR: A comparative study of analytical approaches. Prenat Diagn 2023; 43:477-488. [PMID: 36760169 DOI: 10.1002/pd.6333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To develop a flexible droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) workflow to perform non-invasive prenatal diagnosis via relative mutation dosage (RMD) for maternal pathogenic variants with a range of inheritance patterns, and to compare the accuracy of multiple analytical approaches. METHODS Cell free DNA (cfDNA) was tested from 124 archived maternal plasma samples: 88 cases for sickle cell disease and 36 for rare Mendelian conditions. Three analytical methods were compared: sequential probability ratio testing (SPRT), Bayesian and z-score analyses. RESULTS The SPRT, Bayesian and z-score analyses performed similarly well with correct prediction rates of 96%, 97% and 98%, respectively. However, there were high rates of inconclusive results for each cohort, particularly for z-score analysis which was 31% overall. Two samples were incorrectly classified by all three analytical methods; a false negative result predicted for a fetus affected with sickle cell disease and a false positive result predicting the presence of an X-linked IDS variant in an unaffected fetus. CONCLUSIONS ddPCR can be applied to RMD for diverse conditions and inheritance patterns, but all methods carry a small risk of erroneous results. Further evaluation is required both to reduce the rate of inconclusive results and explore discordant results in more detail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joe Shaw
- North Thames Genomic Laboratory Hub, Great Ormond Street NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Elizabeth Scotchman
- North Thames Genomic Laboratory Hub, Great Ormond Street NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Ben Paternoster
- North Thames Genomic Laboratory Hub, Great Ormond Street NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Maureen Ramos
- North Thames Genomic Laboratory Hub, Great Ormond Street NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Sarah Nesbitt
- North Thames Genomic Laboratory Hub, Great Ormond Street NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Sophie Sheppard
- North Thames Genomic Laboratory Hub, Great Ormond Street NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | | | - Lyn S Chitty
- North Thames Genomic Laboratory Hub, Great Ormond Street NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.,Genetic and Genomic Medicine, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | - Natalie Chandler
- North Thames Genomic Laboratory Hub, Great Ormond Street NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
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Hou Y, Chen S, Zheng Y, Zheng X, Lin JM. Droplet-based digital PCR (ddPCR) and its applications. Trends Analyt Chem 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.trac.2022.116897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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Hanson B, Scotchman E, Chitty LS, Chandler NJ. Non-invasive prenatal diagnosis (NIPD): how analysis of cell-free DNA in maternal plasma has changed prenatal diagnosis for monogenic disorders. Clin Sci (Lond) 2022; 136:1615-1629. [PMID: 36383187 PMCID: PMC9670272 DOI: 10.1042/cs20210380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Revised: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
Cell-free fetal DNA (cffDNA) is released into the maternal circulation from trophoblastic cells during pregnancy, is detectable from 4 weeks and is representative of the entire fetal genome. The presence of this cffDNA in the maternal bloodstream has enabled clinical implementation of non-invasive prenatal diagnosis (NIPD) for monogenic disorders. Detection of paternally inherited and de novo mutations is relatively straightforward, and several methods have been developed for clinical use, including quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), and PCR followed by restriction enzyme digest (PCR-RED) or next-generation sequencing (NGS). A greater challenge has been in the detection of maternally inherited variants owing to the high background of maternal cell-free DNA (cfDNA). Molecular counting techniques have been developed to measure subtle changes in allele frequency. For instance, relative haplotype dosage analysis (RHDO), which uses single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for phasing of high- and low-risk alleles, is clinically available for several monogenic disorders. A major drawback is that RHDO requires samples from both parents and an affected or unaffected proband, therefore alternative methods, such as proband-free RHDO and relative mutation dosage (RMD), are being investigated. cffDNA was thought to exist only as short fragments (<500 bp); however, long-read sequencing technologies have recently revealed a range of sizes up to ∼23 kb. cffDNA also carries a specific placental epigenetic mark, and so fragmentomics and epigenetics are of interest for targeted enrichment of cffDNA. Cell-based NIPD approaches are also currently under investigation as a means to obtain a pure source of intact fetal genomic DNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Britt Hanson
- North Thames Genomic Laboratory Hub, Great Ormond Street NHS Foundation Trust, London, U.K
| | - Elizabeth Scotchman
- North Thames Genomic Laboratory Hub, Great Ormond Street NHS Foundation Trust, London, U.K
| | - Lyn S. Chitty
- North Thames Genomic Laboratory Hub, Great Ormond Street NHS Foundation Trust, London, U.K
- Genetic and Genomic Medicine, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, U.K
| | - Natalie J. Chandler
- North Thames Genomic Laboratory Hub, Great Ormond Street NHS Foundation Trust, London, U.K
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Zhu M, Shan Z, Ning W, Wu X. Image Segmentation and Quantification of Droplet dPCR Based on Thermal Bubble Printing Technology. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 22:7222. [PMID: 36236321 PMCID: PMC9573249 DOI: 10.3390/s22197222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Revised: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Thermal inkjet printing can generate more than 300,000 droplets of picoliter scale within one second stably, and the image analysis workflow is used to quantify the positive and negative values of the droplets. In this paper, the SimpleBlobDetector detection algorithm is used to identify and localize droplets with a volume of 24 pL in bright field images and suppress bright spots and scratches when performing droplet location identification. The polynomial surface fitting of the pixel grayscale value of the fluorescence channel image can effectively compensate and correct the image vignetting caused by the optical path, and the compensated fluorescence image can accurately classify positive and negative droplets by the k-means clustering algorithm. 20 µL of the sample solution in the result reading chip can produce more than 100,000 effective droplets. The effective droplet identification correct rate of 20 images of random statistical samples can reach more than 99% and the classification accuracy of positive and negative droplets can reach more than 98% on average. This paper overcomes the problem of effectively classifying positive and negative droplets caused by the poor image quality of photographed picolitre ddPCR droplets caused by optical hardware limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingjie Zhu
- School of Microelectronics, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Zilong Shan
- School of Microelectronics, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Wei Ning
- Shanghai Industrial µTechnology Research Institute, Shanghai 201800, China
| | - Xuanye Wu
- School of Microelectronics, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
- Shanghai Industrial µTechnology Research Institute, Shanghai 201800, China
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Shekhawat DS, Sharma C, Singh K, Singh P, Bhardwaj A, Patwa P. Critical appraisal of droplet digital polymerase chain reaction application for noninvasive prenatal testing. Congenit Anom (Kyoto) 2022; 62:188-197. [PMID: 35662261 DOI: 10.1111/cga.12481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Revised: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Maternal-fetal medicine (FM) is currently a highly demanding branch and is gaining importance as increasing number of genetic disorders rise in incidence. Prenatal testing helps to detect such abnormalities that could affect the health status of the developing fetus like birth defects or genetic disorders. Considering the rising trend of genetic disorders, there is a need for a highly sensitive way of noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) that may reduce the incidence of unnecessary invasive procedures and iatrogenic fetal loss. The concept of NIPT for screening of genetic disorders is continuously evolving over the last two decades and multiple techniques have come up to utilize this in the field of FM. The crucial factor which decides the accuracy of NIPS is cell free fetal DNA (cffDNA) that is present in extremely low fraction (10%-15%) in the maternal plasma. Among the available methods, the next generation sequencing (NGS) is considered as the gold standard. However, the higher cost diminishes its utility in low-resource settings. Droplet digital Polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR), a type of digital PCR is a novel technique that is frugal, equally sensitive, less labor intensive, less time-consuming and plain algorithm dependent method for detecting cffDNA fraction. Considering these impressive attributes of ddPCR, we decided to critically review the existing literature on ddPCR for NIPT whilst highlighting the clinical utility, challenges and its advantages over NGS.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Charu Sharma
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, AIIMS, Jodhpur, India
| | | | - Pratibha Singh
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, AIIMS, Jodhpur, India
| | - Abhishek Bhardwaj
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, AIIMS, Jodhpur, India
| | - Payal Patwa
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, AIIMS, Jodhpur, India
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11
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Carsote M, Vasiliu C, Trandafir AI, Albu SE, Dumitrascu MC, Popa A, Mehedintu C, Petca RC, Petca A, Sandru F. New Entity-Thalassemic Endocrine Disease: Major Beta-Thalassemia and Endocrine Involvement. Diagnostics (Basel) 2022; 12:diagnostics12081921. [PMID: 36010271 PMCID: PMC9406368 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics12081921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Revised: 07/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Beta-thalassemia (BTH), a recessively inherited haemoglobin (Hb) disorder, causes iron overload (IO), extra-medullary haematopoiesis and bone marrow expansion with major clinical impact. The main objective of this review is to address endocrine components (including aspects of reproductive health as fertility potential and pregnancy outcome) in major beta-thalassemia patients, a complex panel known as thalassemic endocrine disease (TED). We included English, full-text articles based on PubMed research (January 2017–June 2022). TED includes hypogonadism (hypoGn), anomalies of GH/IGF1 axes with growth retardation, hypothyroidism (hypoT), hypoparathyroidism (hypoPT), glucose profile anomalies, adrenal insufficiency, reduced bone mineral density (BMD), and deterioration of microarchitecture with increased fracture risk (FR). The prevalence of each ED varies with population, criteria of definition, etc. At least one out of every three to four children below the age of 12 y have one ED. ED correlates with ferritin and poor compliance to therapy, but not all studies agree. Up to 86% of the adult population is affected by an ED. Age is a positive linear predictor for ED. Low IGF1 is found in 95% of the population with GH deficiency (GHD), but also in 93.6% of persons without GHD. HypoT is mostly pituitary-related; it is not clinically manifested in the majority of cases, hence the importance of TSH/FT4 screening. HypoT is found at any age, with the prevalence varying between 8.3% and 30%. Non-compliance to chelation increases the risk of hypoT, yet not all studies confirmed the correlation with chelation history (reversible hypoT under chelation is reported). The pitfalls of TSH interpretation due to hypophyseal IO should be taken into consideration. HypoPT prevalence varies from 6.66% (below the age of 12) to a maximum of 40% (depending on the study). Serum ferritin might act as a stimulator of FGF23. Associated hypocalcaemia transitions from asymptomatic to severe manifestations. HypoPT is mostly found in association with growth retardation and hypoGn. TED-associated adrenal dysfunction is typically mild; an index of suspicion should be considered due to potential life-threatening complications. Periodic check-up by ACTH stimulation test is advised. Adrenal insufficiency/hypocortisolism status is the rarest ED (but some reported a prevalence of up to one third of patients). Significantly, many studies did not routinely perform a dynamic test. Atypical EM sites might be found in adrenals, mimicking an incidentaloma. Between 7.5–10% of children with major BTH have DM; screening starts by the age of 10, and ferritin correlated with glycaemia. Larger studies found DM in up to 34%of cases. Many studies do not take into consideration IGF, IGT, or do not routinely include OGTT. Glucose anomalies are time dependent. Emerging new markers represent promising alternatives, such as insulin secretion-sensitivity index-2. The pitfalls of glucose profile interpretation include the levels of HbA1c and the particular risk of gestational DM. Thalassemia bone disease (TBD) is related to hypoGn-related osteoporosis, renal function anomalies, DM, GHD, malnutrition, chronic hypoxia-induced calcium malabsorption, and transplant-associated protocols. Low BMD was identified in both paediatric and adult population; the prevalence of osteoporosis/TBD in major BTH patients varies; the highest rate is 40–72% depending on age, studied parameters, DXA evaluation and corrections, and screening thoracic–lumbar spine X-ray. Lower TBS and abnormal dynamics of bone turnover markers are reported. The largest cohorts on transfusion-dependent BTH identified the prevalence of hypoGn to be between 44.5% and 82%. Ferritin positively correlates with pubertal delay, and negatively with pituitary volume. Some authors appreciate hypoGn as the most frequent ED below the age of 15. Long-term untreated hypoGn induces a high cardiovascular risk and increased FR. Hormonal replacement therapy is necessary in addition to specific BTH therapy. Infertility underlines TED-related hormonal elements (primary and secondary hypoGn) and IO-induced gonadal toxicity. Males with BTH are at risk of infertility due to germ cell loss. IO induces an excessive amount of free radicals which impair the quality of sperm, iron being a local catalyser of ROS. Adequate chelation might improve fertility issues. Due to the advances in current therapies, the reproductive health of females with major BTH is improving; a low level of statistical significance reflects the pregnancy status in major BTH (limited data on spontaneous pregnancies and growing evidence of the induction of ovulation/assisted reproductive techniques). Pregnancy outcome also depends on TED approach, including factors such as DM control, adequate replacement of hypoT and hypoPT, and vitamin D supplementation for bone health. Asymptomatic TED elements such as subclinical hypothyroidism or IFG/IGT might become overt during pregnancy. Endocrine glands are particularly sensitive to iron deposits, hence TED includes a complicated puzzle of EDs which massively impacts on the overall picture, including the quality of life in major BTH. The BTH prognostic has registered progress in the last decades due to modern therapy, but the medical and social burden remains elevated. Genetic counselling represents a major step in approaching TH individuals, including as part of the pre-conception assessment. A multidisciplinary surveillance team is mandatory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mara Carsote
- Department of Endocrinology, C. Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy & C.I. Parhon National Institute of Endocrinology, 011684 Bucharest, Romania
- Correspondence: (M.C.); (M.-C.D.)
| | - Cristina Vasiliu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, C. Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy & University Emergency Hospital, 011684 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Alexandra Ioana Trandafir
- Department of Endocrinology, C.I. Parhon National Institute of Endocrinology, 011684 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Simona Elena Albu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, C. Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy & University Emergency Hospital, 011684 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Mihai-Cristian Dumitrascu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, C. Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy & University Emergency Hospital, 011684 Bucharest, Romania
- Correspondence: (M.C.); (M.-C.D.)
| | - Adelina Popa
- Department of Dermatovenerology, C. Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy & “Elias” University Emergency Hospital, 011684 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Claudia Mehedintu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, C. Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy & “Filantropia” Clinical Hospital, 011684 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Razvan-Cosmin Petca
- Department of Urology, C. Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy & “Prof. Dr. Theodor Burghele” Clinical Hospital, 011684 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Aida Petca
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, C. Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy & University Emergency Hospital, 011684 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Florica Sandru
- Department of Dermatovenerology, C. Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy & “Elias” University Emergency Hospital, 011684 Bucharest, Romania
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Zaninović L, Bašković M, Ježek D, Katušić Bojanac A. Validity and Utility of Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing for Copy Number Variations and Microdeletions: A Systematic Review. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11123350. [PMID: 35743413 PMCID: PMC9224664 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11123350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Revised: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Valid data on prenatal cell-free DNA-based screening tests for copy number variations and microdeletions are still insufficient. We aimed to compare different methodological approaches concerning the achieved diagnostic accuracy measurements and positive predictive values. For this systematic review, we searched the Scopus and PubMed databases and backward citations for studies published between 2013 and 4 February 2022 and included articles reporting the analytical and clinical performance of cfDNA screening tests for CNVs and microdeletions. Of the 1810 articles identified, 32 met the criteria. The reported sensitivity of the applied tests ranged from 20% to 100%, the specificity from 81.62% to 100%, and the PPV from 3% to 100% for cases with diagnostic or clinical follow-up information. No confirmatory analysis was available in the majority of cases with negative screening results, and, therefore, the NPVs could not be determined. NIPT for CNVs and microdeletions should be used with caution and any developments regarding new technologies should undergo strict evaluation before their implementation into clinical practice. Indications for testing should be in correlation with the application guidelines issued by international organizations in the field of prenatal diagnostics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Zaninović
- Scientific Centre of Excellence for Reproductive and Regenerative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Šalata 3, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia; (L.Z.); (D.J.); (A.K.B.)
- Children’s Hospital Zagreb, Ulica Vjekoslava Klaića 16, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Marko Bašković
- Scientific Centre of Excellence for Reproductive and Regenerative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Šalata 3, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia; (L.Z.); (D.J.); (A.K.B.)
- Children’s Hospital Zagreb, Ulica Vjekoslava Klaića 16, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +385-1-3636-379
| | - Davor Ježek
- Scientific Centre of Excellence for Reproductive and Regenerative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Šalata 3, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia; (L.Z.); (D.J.); (A.K.B.)
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Šalata 3, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia
- Department of Transfusion Medicine and Transplantation Biology, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Kišpatićeva 12, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Ana Katušić Bojanac
- Scientific Centre of Excellence for Reproductive and Regenerative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Šalata 3, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia; (L.Z.); (D.J.); (A.K.B.)
- Department of Medical Biology, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Šalata 3, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia
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D’Aversa E, Breveglieri G, Boutou E, Balassopoulou A, Voskaridou E, Pellegatti P, Guerra G, Scapoli C, Gambari R, Borgatti M. Droplet Digital PCR for Non-Invasive Prenatal Detection of Fetal Single-Gene Point Mutations in Maternal Plasma. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23052819. [PMID: 35269962 PMCID: PMC8911123 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23052819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) is based on the detection and characterization of circulating cell-free fetal DNA (ccffDNA) in maternal plasma and aims to identify genetic abnormalities. At present, commercial NIPT kits can detect only aneuploidies, small deletions and insertions and some paternally inherited single-gene point mutations causing genetic diseases, but not maternally inherited ones. In this work, we have developed two NIPT assays, based on the innovative and sensitive droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) technology, to identify the two most common β thalassemia mutations in the Mediterranean area (β+IVSI-110 and β039), maternally and/or paternally inherited, by fetal genotyping. The assays were optimized in terms of amplification efficiency and hybridization specificity, using mixtures of two genomic DNAs with different genotypes and percentages to simulate fetal and maternal circulating cell-free DNA (ccfDNA) at various gestational weeks. The two ddPCR assays were then applied to determine the fetal genotype from 52 maternal plasma samples at different gestational ages. The diagnostic outcomes were confirmed for all the samples by DNA sequencing. In the case of mutations inherited from the mother or from both parents, a precise dosage of normal and mutated alleles was required to determine the fetal genotype. In particular, we identified two diagnostic ranges for allelic ratio values statistically distinct and not overlapping, allowing correct fetal genotype determinations for almost all the analyzed samples. In conclusion, we have developed a simple and sensitive diagnostic tool, based on ddPCR, for the NIPT of β+IVSI-110 and β039 mutations paternally and, for the first time, maternally inherited, a tool, which may be applied to other single point mutations causing monogenic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabetta D’Aversa
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (E.D.); (G.B.); (C.S.); (R.G.)
| | - Giulia Breveglieri
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (E.D.); (G.B.); (C.S.); (R.G.)
| | - Effrossyni Boutou
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Thalassemia and Hemoglobinopathies Center, Laiko General Hospital, 11526 Athens, Greece; (E.B.); (A.B.)
| | - Angeliki Balassopoulou
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Thalassemia and Hemoglobinopathies Center, Laiko General Hospital, 11526 Athens, Greece; (E.B.); (A.B.)
| | - Ersi Voskaridou
- Thalassemia and Hemoglobinopathies Center, Laiko General Hospital, 11526 Athens, Greece;
| | - Patrizia Pellegatti
- Operative Unit of Laboratory Analysis, University Hospital S. Anna, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (P.P.); (G.G.)
| | - Giovanni Guerra
- Operative Unit of Laboratory Analysis, University Hospital S. Anna, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (P.P.); (G.G.)
| | - Chiara Scapoli
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (E.D.); (G.B.); (C.S.); (R.G.)
| | - Roberto Gambari
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (E.D.); (G.B.); (C.S.); (R.G.)
- Thal-LAB, Research Laboratory “Elio Zago” on the Pharmacologic and Pharmacogenomic Therapy of Thalassemia, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Monica Borgatti
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (E.D.); (G.B.); (C.S.); (R.G.)
- Biotechnology Center, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-0532-974441
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