The amniotic fluid transcriptome as a guide to understanding fetal disease

LM Zwemer, DW Bianchi - Cold Spring …, 2015 - perspectivesinmedicine.cshlp.org
LM Zwemer, DW Bianchi
Cold Spring Harbor perspectives in medicine, 2015perspectivesinmedicine.cshlp.org
Numerous recent studies have shown the power of cell-free fetal RNA, obtained from
amniotic fluid supernatant, to report on the development of the living fetus in real time.
Examination of these transcripts on a genome-wide basis has led to new insights into the
prenatal pathophysiology of multiple genetic, developmental, and environmental diseases.
Each studied condition presents a unique, characteristic fetal transcriptome, which points to
specific disrupted molecular pathways. These studies have also improved our knowledge of …
Numerous recent studies have shown the power of cell-free fetal RNA, obtained from amniotic fluid supernatant, to report on the development of the living fetus in real time. Examination of these transcripts on a genome-wide basis has led to new insights into the prenatal pathophysiology of multiple genetic, developmental, and environmental diseases. Each studied condition presents a unique, characteristic fetal transcriptome, which points to specific disrupted molecular pathways. These studies have also improved our knowledge of the normal development of the human fetus, revealing gestational age-related dynamic gene expression from a variety of organs. Analysis of the fetal transcriptome in normal and abnormal development has led to novel approaches for in utero prenatal treatment.
perspectivesinmedicine.cshlp.org