title: Recovery and amplification of placental RNA from dried maternal blood spots: utility for non-invasive prenatal diagnosis.
abstract: Methods utilizing circulating cell-free RNA in plasma have clinical applications for cancer and prenatal genetic analysis. Given these potential roles, the feasibility of detecting placental specific RNA in dried maternal blood spots after storage at room temperature for varying lengths of time was investigated. Using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), positive amplification of placental-specific beta-human chorionic gonadotrophin transcripts was demonstrated in nine of 11 dried blood samples from first and second trimester pregnancies stored at room temperature for up to 4 weeks. This work demonstrates feasibility in isolation and amplification of placental mRNA using dried maternal blood spots. With the development of fetal and placental RNA markers, this approach would allow simplified collection, transport, and storage of samples for prenatal genetic diagnosis and pregnancy related complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Carolina J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Jorgez
authors.forename: Joe Leigh
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Simpson
authors.forename: Farideh Z
authors.initials: FZ
authors.lastname: Bischoff
mesh_terms: D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D024601:Glyceraldehyde 3-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (NADP+) / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D021141:Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D010920:Placenta / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000379:methods*; D012313:RNA / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood* / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; D012313:RNA; D024601:Glyceraldehyde 3-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (NADP+)