Cell-free DNA diagnostics in transplantation utilizing next generation sequencing

The use of Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) to interrogate cell-free DNA (cfDNA) as a transplant diag-nostic provides a crucial step in improving the accuracy of post-transplant monitoring of allograft health. cfDNA interrogation provides a powerful, yet minimally invasive, biomarker for disease and tissue injury. cfDNA can be isolated from a variety of body fluids and analyzed using bioinformatics to unlock its ori-gins. Furthermore, cfDNA characteristics can reveal the mechanisms and conditions under which it was generated and released. In transplantation, donor-derived cfDNA monitoring provides a tool for identify-ing active allograft injury at the time of transplant, infection, and rejection. Multiple detection and inter-rogation methods for cfDNA detection are now being evaluated for clinical validity and hold the promise to provide minimally invasive, quantitative, and reproducible measures of allograft injury across organ types. (c) 2021 American Society for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Using NGS to interrogate cfDNA improves accuracy in post-transplant monitoring, revealing mechanisms of injury. Monitoring donor-derived cfDNA aids in identifying allograft injury and rejection, providing minimally invasive, quantitative measures across organ types.