Evaluation of bidirectional transfer of plasma DNA through placenta.
To clarify the origin of cell-free fetal DNA in maternal plasma, we analyzed bidirectional transfer of plasma DNA between fetus and mother. We analyzed maternal and fetal plasma DNA obtained from 15 pregnant women at the time of Cesarean section. The subjects were five patients with preeclampsia and 10 gestational-age-matched normal controls. DNA was extracted from 1.5-ml plasma samples and the cellular fraction of maternal and umbilical blood. Seven polymorphic marker genes were analyzed. The relative concentration of fetal DNA in maternal plasma and maternal DNA in cord blood were evaluated. The relative concentration of maternal DNA in fetal circulation (median, 0.9%; range, 0.2-8.4%) was significantly lower than that of fetal DNA in maternal blood (14.3%, 2.3-64%), with P=0.007. The relative concentration of maternal DNA in fetal blood was not affected by preeclampsia. These findings indicate that cell-free DNA is unequally transferred through the placenta. The structural characteristics of the placenta suggest that the majority of cell-free fetal DNA in maternal plasma is derived from villous trophoblasts.
Sekizawa
Akihiko
A
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Showa University School of Medicine, 1-5-8 Hatanodai, Shinagawa-ku, 142-8666, Tokyo, Japan. sekizawa@med.showa-u.ac.jp
Yokokawa
Kaori
K
Sugito
Yumi
Y
Iwasaki
Mariko
M
Yukimoto
Yasuo
Y
Ichizuka
Kiyotake
K
Saito
Hiroshi
H
Okai
Takashi
T
D004247:DNA / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006801:Humans; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange / Q000235:genetics*; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011247:Pregnancy; D020080:Tandem Repeat Sequences
D005819:Genetic Markers; D004247:DNA