The Diagnostic, Prognostic, and Therapeutic Potential of Cell-Free DNA with a Special Focus on COVID-19 and Other Viral Infections

Hovhannisyan, Galina; Harutyunyan, Tigran; Aroutiounian, Rouben; Liehr, Thomas

doi:10.3390/ijms241814163

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The Diagnostic, Prognostic, and Therapeutic Potential of Cell-Free DNA with a Special Focus on COVID-19 and Other Viral Infections

¹

Department of Genetics and Cytology, Yerevan State University, Alex Manoogian 1, Yerevan 0025, Armenia

²

Jena University Hospital, Friedrich Schiller University, Institute of Human Genetics, Am Klinikum 1, 07747 Jena, Germany

^*

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(18), 14163; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241814163

Submission received: 2 August 2023 / Revised: 11 September 2023 / Accepted: 13 September 2023 / Published: 15 September 2023

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Viral and Host Targets to Fight RNA Viruses)

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Abstract

Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) in human blood serum, urine, and other body fluids recently became a commonly used diagnostic marker associated with various pathologies. This is because cfDNA enables a much higher sensitivity than standard biochemical parameters. The presence of and/or increased level of cfDNA has been reported for various diseases, including viral infections, including COVID-19. Here, we review cfDNA in general, how it has been identified, where it can derive from, its molecular features, and mechanisms of release and clearance. General suitability of cfDNA for diagnostic questions, possible shortcomings and future directions are discussed, with a special focus on coronavirus infection.

Keywords: COVID-19; cfDNA; cell death; extracellular vesicles; viral infections

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MDPI and ACS Style

Hovhannisyan, G.; Harutyunyan, T.; Aroutiounian, R.; Liehr, T. The Diagnostic, Prognostic, and Therapeutic Potential of Cell-Free DNA with a Special Focus on COVID-19 and Other Viral Infections. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24, 14163. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241814163

AMA Style

Hovhannisyan G, Harutyunyan T, Aroutiounian R, Liehr T. The Diagnostic, Prognostic, and Therapeutic Potential of Cell-Free DNA with a Special Focus on COVID-19 and Other Viral Infections. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2023; 24(18):14163. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241814163

Chicago/Turabian Style

Hovhannisyan, Galina, Tigran Harutyunyan, Rouben Aroutiounian, and Thomas Liehr. 2023. "The Diagnostic, Prognostic, and Therapeutic Potential of Cell-Free DNA with a Special Focus on COVID-19 and Other Viral Infections" International Journal of Molecular Sciences 24, no. 18: 14163. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241814163

APA Style

Hovhannisyan, G., Harutyunyan, T., Aroutiounian, R., & Liehr, T. (2023). The Diagnostic, Prognostic, and Therapeutic Potential of Cell-Free DNA with a Special Focus on COVID-19 and Other Viral Infections. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24(18), 14163. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241814163

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The Diagnostic, Prognostic, and Therapeutic Potential of Cell-Free DNA with a Special Focus on COVID-19 and Other Viral Infections

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