A study on maternal and fetal cell free DNA (cffDNA) for predicting the adverse pregnancy outcomes

Abstract

This gender-independent detection of cell-free fetal DNA in maternal plasma using RASSF1A/beta-actin has curtained off a new dimension regarding its utility to predict the adverse pregnancy outcomes. Recent efforts have been directed at developing sequences from cell-free fetal DNA (cffDNA) as markers for pregnancy outcomes. The utility of cffDNA using the methylation-dependent DSCR3 and RASSF1A markers along with total cell-free DNA (cf-DNA) in maternal serum by HYP2 marker are useful in predicting adverse pregnancy outcomes. Indigenously developed low-cost method of the gender-independent sequence markers from cffDNA was investigated and evaluated with the standardized commercial kits as predictive markers for adverse pregnancy outcomes. In the present study, we have tested whether the elevated amount of cffDNA in maternal plasma is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes and development of new marker by the low-cost method to predict adverse pregnancy outcomes. 210 pregnant women within the age group of 20 – 30 years attending for routine antenatal checkups after 20 weeks with fulfilling the diagnostic criteria of adverse pregnancy outcomes were included in our study. Age-matched pregnant women without adverse pregnancy outcomes were included as controls (n=210). Identification of cell-free fetal DNA (cffDNA) in maternal plasma by using in-house methods (Guanidium isothiocyanate) was found comparable with commercial kit and its content (GE/ µl) in adverse pregnancy outcomes subjects were significantly higher than the normotensive subjects. Our results indicated that indigenously developed method for detection of gender-independent cffDNA can be applicable for screening test of adverse pregnancy outcome.