Elevated levels of cell-free circulating DNA in patients with acute dengue virus infection.

• Main Authors: Tran Thi Ngoc Ha, Nguyen Tien Huy, Lyre Anni Murao, Nguyen Thi Phuong Lan, Tran Thi Thuy, Ha Manh Tuan, Cao Thi Phi Nga, Vo Van Tuong, Tran Van Dat, Mihoko Kikuchi, Michio Yasunami, Kouichi Morita, Vu Thi Que Huong, Kenji Hirayama
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2011-01-01
• Series: PLoS ONE
• Online Access: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmid/22016795/?tool=EBI

<h4>Background</h4>Apoptosis is thought to play a role in the pathogenesis of severe dengue and the release of cell-free DNA into the circulatory system in several medical conditions. Therefore, we investigated circulating DNA as a potential biomarker for severe dengue.<h4>Methods and findings</h4>A direct fluorometric degradation assay using PicoGreen was performed to quantify cell-free DNA from patient plasma. Circulating DNA levels were significantly higher in patients with dengue virus infection than with other febrile illnesses and healthy controls. Remarkably, the increase of DNA levels correlated with the severity of dengue. Additionally, multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that circulating DNA levels independently correlated with dengue shock syndrome.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Circulating DNA levels were increased in dengue patients and correlated with dengue severity. Additional studies are required to show the benefits of this biomarker in early dengue diagnosis and for the prognosis of shock complication.