Non-invasive Prenatal Diagnosis of Trisomy 21 by Dosage Ratio of Fetal Chromosome-specific Epigenetic Markers in Maternal Plasma

This study examined the methylation difference in AIRE and RASSF1A between maternal and placental DNA, and the implication of this difference in the identification of free fetal DNA in maternal plasma and in prenatal diagnosis of trisomy 21. Maternal plasma samples were collected from 388 singleton pregnancies, and placental or chorionic villus tissues from 112 of them. Methylation-specific PCR （MSP） and methylation-sensitive restriction enzyme digestion followed by fluorescent quantitative PCR （MSRE ＋ PCR） were employed to detect the maternal-fetal methylation difference in AIRE and RASSF1A. Diagnosis of trisomy 21 was established according to the ratio of fetal-specific AIRE to RASSF1A in maternal plasma. Both methods confirmed that AIRE and RASSF1A were hypomethylated in maternal blood cells but hypermethylated in placental or chorionic villus tissues. Moreover, the differential methylation for each locus could be seen during the whole pregnant period. The positive rates of fetal AIRE and RASSF1A in maternal plasma were found to be 78.1% and 82.1% by MSP and 94.8% and 96.9% by MSRE ＋ PCR. MSRE ＋ PCR was superior to MSP in the identification of fetal-specific hypermethylated sequences （P〈0.05）. Based on the data from 266 euploidy pregnancies, the 95% reference interval of the fetal AIRE/RASSF1A ratio in maternal plasma was 0.33-1.77, which was taken as the reference value for determining the numbers of fetal chromosome 21 in 102 pregnancies. The accu-racy rate in 98 euploidy pregnancies was 96.9% （95/98）. Three of the four trisomy 21 pregnancies were confirmed with this method. It was concluded that hypermethylated AIRE and RASSF1A may serve as fetal-specific markers for the identification of fetal DNA in maternal plasma and may be used for noninvasive prenatal diagnosis of trisomy 21.

Enrichment of Fetal Nucleated Red Blood Cells by Multi-core Magnetic Composite Particles for Non-invasive Prenatal Diagnosis

A novel kind of multi-core magnetic composite particles, the surfaces of which were respectively mo- dified with goat-anti-mouse IgG and antitransferrin receptor（anti-CD71）, was prepared. The fetal nucleated red blood cells（FNRBCs） in the peripheral blood of a gravida were rapidly and effectively enriched and separated by the mo- dified multi-core magnetic composite particles in an external magnetic field. The obtained FNRBCs were used for the identification of the fetal sex by means of fluorescence in situ hybridization（FISH） technique. The results demonstrate that the multi-core magnetic composite particles meet the requirements for the enrichment and speration of FNRBCs with a low concentration and the accuracy of detetion for the diagnosis of fetal sex reached to 95%. Moreover, the obtained FNRBCs were applied to the non-invasive diagnosis of Down syndrome and chromosome 3p21 was de- tected. The above facts indicate that the novel multi-core magnetic composite particles-based method is simple, relia- ble and cost-effective and has opened up vast vistas for the potential application in clinic non-invasive prenatal diag- nosis.

Non-invasive Prenatal Gene Diagnosis: Progress through Cell-free Fetal DNA and RNA in Maternal Plasma and Urine

Non-invasive prenatal gene diagnosis has been developed rapidly in the recent years, and numerous medical researchers are focusing on it. Such techniques could not only achieve prenatal diagnosis accurately, but also prevent tangential illness in fetuses and thus, reduce the incidence of diseases. Moreover, it is non-invasive prenatal gene diagnosis that prevents potential threaten and danger to both mothers and fetuses. Therefore, it is welcomed by clinical gynecologist and obstetrian, researchers of medical genetics, and especially, pregnancies. This review article touches briefly on the advanced development of using cell-free DNA, RNA in maternal plasma and urine for non-invasive prenatal gene diagnosis.

Relationship Between Gene-Phenotype and Clinical Manifestations of Chromosomal Copy Number Variations Indicated by Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing

Objective:To analyze the clinical value of non-invasive prenatal testing(NIPT)in detecting chromosomal copy number variations(CNVs)and to explore the relationship between gene expression and clinical manifestations of chromosomal copy number variations.Methods:3551 naturally conceived singleton pregnant women who underwent NIPT were included in this study.The NIPT revealed abnormalities other than sex chromosome abnormalities and trisomy 13,18,and 21.Pregnant women with chromosome copy number variations underwent genetic counseling and prenatal ultrasound examination.Interventional prenatal diagnosis and chromosome microarray analysis(CMA)were performed.The clinical phenotypes and pregnancy outcomes of different prenatal diagnoses were analyzed.Additionally,a follow-up was conducted by telephone to track fetal development after birth,at six months,and one year post-birth.Results:A total of 53 cases among 3551 cases showed chromosomal copy number variation.Interventional prenatal diagnosis was performed in 36 cases:27 cases were negative and 8 were consistent with the NIPT test results.This indicates that NIPT’s positive predictive value(PPV)in CNVs is 22.22%.Conclusion:NIPT has certain clinical significance in screening chromosome copy number variations and is expected to become a routine screening for chromosomal microdeletions and microduplications.However,further interventional prenatal diagnosis is still needed to identify fetal CNVs.

Reproductive management through integration of PGD and MPS-based noninvasive prenatal screening/diagnosis for a family with GJB2-associated hearing impairment

A couple with a proband child of GJB2 （encoding the gap junction protein connexin 26）-associated hearing impairment and a previous pregnancy miscarriage sought for a reproductive solution to bear a healthy child. Our study aimed to develop a cus- tomized preconception-to-neonate care trajectory to fulfill this clinical demand by integrating preimplantation genetic diagno- sis （PGD）, noninvasive prenatal testing （NIPT）, and noninvasive prenatal diagnosis （N1PD） into the strategy. Auditory and ge- netic diagnosis of the proband child was carried out to identify the disease causative mutations. The couple then received in-vitro-fertilization treatment, and eight embryos were obtained for day 5 biopsy. PGD was performed by short-tandem-repeat linkage analysis and Sanger sequencing of GJB2 gene. Transfer of a GJB2c.235delC heterozygous embryo resulted in a sin- gleton pregnancy. At the 13th week of gestation, genomic DNA （gDNA） from the trio family and cell-free DNA （cfDNA） from maternal plasma were obtained for assessment of fetal chromosomal aneuploidy and GJB2 mutations. NIPT and NIPD showed the absence of chromosomal aneuploidy and GJB2-associated disease in the fetus, which was later confirmed by inva- sire procedures and postnatal genetic/auditory diagnosis. This strategy successfully prevented the transmission of hearing im- pairment in the newborn, thus providing a valuable experience in reproductive management of similar cases and potentially other monogenic disorders.

Non-invasive prenatal molecular detection of a fetal point mutation for congenital adrenal hyperplasia using co-amplification at lower denaturation temperature PCR

Conventional prenatal diagnosis relies on invasive chorionic biopsy or amniocentesis, which increases the risk of miscarriage, and is undertaken at 11-20 weeks gestation.1 The discovery of cell-free fetal DNA in maternal plasma has, however, offered a new strategy for non-invasive prenatal diagnosis.2 Cell-free fetal DNA in maternal plasma has been used for the determination of fetal gender3 and RHD status4 as well as testing certain monogenic diseases such as 13-thalassemia5 and cystic fibrosis.6 However,

血清学筛查联合胎儿非整倍体产前无创基因检测临床应用价值的研究

目的探讨孕期血清学筛查联合无创性产前胎儿染色体非整倍体基因检测的临床应用,提高染色体疾病的检出率,降低出生缺陷。方法孕期适时机会血清学筛查23039例。采用时间分辨免疫荧光法检测,血清学联合二联筛查早孕9-13＋6周,妊娠相关蛋白PAPP-A和游离β-HCG,中孕15-20＋6周三联筛查甲胎蛋白AFP、游离β-HCG、游离E3检测激素水平,应用Multicalc软件评估风险值,21-三体风险分割值1：270,≥1：270为高风险,1：270~1：500临界风险。18三体风险分割值1：350,≥1：350为高风险,1：350-1：800为临界风险值。结果筛查出高风险1546例,占6.71%,临界风险值3257例,占14.17%,无创产前诊断2842例占59.17%,介入性产前诊断550例占11.54%。产前诊断确诊胎儿染色体异常共27例,其中非整倍体19例,占0.39%,其他染色体异常8例,占0.16%,知情告知签字不落实产前诊断发生出生缺陷7例,调查表明临界风险选择无创样本例数占59.17%,羊水样本例数占11.54%,无创检测高风险数经羊水再次核型分析一致性达100%。结论血清学产前筛查联合无创产前胎儿非整倍体DNA检测可提高产前诊断效率,特别对临界风险值瓶颈线的突破起关键性作用,降低胎儿染色体非整倍体病率快捷、安全,较介入性产前诊断易于接受、推广,是今后发展的必然趋势。

基于游离RNA的无创性产前诊断研究进展

孕妇血浆血清中游离RNA作为一种新的胎儿遗传信息材料给无创性产前诊断带来了新的契机。已经证实,游离胎儿RNA分子主要来源于胎盘,且稳定存在于母体血循环中,易于检测。同时,其由于无需依赖胎儿性别或父源性多态性位点而具有十分明显的应用优势。目前,已经有研究将血浆血清中游离RNA与胎儿非整倍体、宫内发育迟缓以及子痫前期等妊娠相关疾病联系起来,并且取得了十分可喜的研究成果。

子痫前期孕妇外周血浆中高甲基化SIM2基因的含量变化

目的:通过检测高甲基化SIM2基因来分析游离胎儿DNA在正常妊娠孕妇及子痫前期孕妇外周血浆中含量的变化。方法:共收集114例外周血浆样本(包括健康未妊娠女性志愿者10例,产后48小时健康女性10例,正常妊娠孕妇57例,子痫前期孕妇37例),利用HpaⅡ、MspⅠ分别对提取的血浆DNA进行甲基化酶切反应后再进行实时荧光定量PCR反应,相对定量法检测高甲基化SIM2基因的含量。结果:①10例健康未妊娠女性志愿者及产后48小时健康女性外周血浆中均未检测出高甲基化SIM2基因;②57例正常妊娠孕妇中有43例检测出高甲基化SIM2基因,在不同妊娠阶段高甲基化SIM2基因含量的差异有统计学意义,高甲基化SIM2基因的含量在中期妊娠是早期妊娠的2.33倍,晚期妊娠是早期妊娠的5.28倍;③37例子痫前期孕妇中有36例检出高甲基化SIM2基因,高甲基化SIM2基因的含量在轻度子痫前期孕妇血浆中是正常晚期妊娠的3.05倍,在重度子痫前期孕妇中是正常晚期妊娠的6.32倍。结论:高甲基化SIM2基因是可靠的胎儿特异性标记,在孕妇外周血浆中高甲基化SIM2基因的含量随妊娠进展而增加,与孕周有关。高甲基化SIM2基因在子痫前期孕妇血浆中含量明显增加,能够反应子痫前期疾病的严重程度。