Platelets sequester extracellular DNA, capturing tumor-derived and free fetal DNA.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 40811534.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1126/science.adp3971 and PMC identifier 7618233.
- Licence recorded as CC BY.
- The licence permits redistribution, so the abstract is shown in full and the full text is available from the publisher.
Abstract
Platelets are anucleate blood cells vital for hemostasis and immunity. During cell death and aberrant mitosis, nucleated cells release DNA, resulting in "cell-free" DNA in plasma (cfDNA). An excess of cfDNA is deleterious. Given their ability to internalize pathogen-derived nucleic acids, we hypothesized that platelets may also clear endogenous cfDNA. We found that, despite lacking a nucleus, platelets contained a repertoire of DNA fragments mapping across the nuclear genome. We detected fetal DNA in maternal platelets and cancer-derived DNA in platelets from patients with premalignant and cancerous lesions. As current liquid biopsy approaches utilize platelet-depleted plasma, important genetic information contained within platelets is being missed. This study establishes a physiological role for platelets that has not previously been highlighted, with broad translational relevance.
Medical subject headings
- Blood Platelets
- Cell-Free Nucleic Acids
- Circulating Tumor DNA
- DNA, Neoplasm
- Fetus
- Neoplasms