title: Cell-Free DNA: An Upcoming Biomarker in Transplantation.
abstract: After organ transplantation, donor-derived cell-free DNA (ddcfDNA) can be detected in the recipient's blood and urine. Different ddcfDNA quantification techniques have been investigated but a major breakthrough was made with the introduction of digital droplet PCR and massive parallel sequencing creating the opportunity to increase the understanding of ddcfDNA kinetics after transplantation. The observations of increased levels of ddcfDNA during acute rejection and even weeks to months before histologic features of graft rejection point to a possible role of ddcfDNA as an early, noninvasive rejection marker. In this review, we summarize published research on ddcfDNA in the transplantation field thereby elaborating on its clinical utility.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and Pediatrics, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.|Department of Immunohematology and Blood Transfusion, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Gielis
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and Pediatrics, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Ledeganck
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and Pediatrics, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: B Y
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: De Winter
authors.affiliation: Multiplicom N. V., Niel, Belgium.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Del Favero
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and Pediatrics, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.|Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: J-L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Bosmans
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunohematology and Blood Transfusion, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: F H J
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Claas
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and Pediatrics, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.|Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Abramowicz
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunohematology and Blood Transfusion, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eikmans
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002474:Cell-Free System; D004247:DNA / Q000097:blood* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D059014:High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing; D006801:Humans; D016377:Organ Transplantation; D014019:Tissue Donors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D004247:DNA
keywords: biomarker; clinical research/practice; kidney transplantation/nephrology; molecular biology; molecular biology: DNA; organ transplantation in general; rejection: acute; translational research/science