Cell-surface-bound circulating DNA in the blood: Biology and clinical application

Abstract

Cell-surface-bound extracellular DNA (csbDNA) is present on the outer membrane of blood cells, including both red blood cells and leukocytes. Although less well characterized than cell-free DNA (cfDNA) in plasma and serum, leukocyte and red blood cell csbDNA form a considerable fraction of the blood extracellular nucleic acids pool, with typically at least comparable amount of DNA occurring bound to the outer surface of cells as compared with circulating free DNA in plasma. The cellular origin of csbDNA is not clear; however, as with cfDNA, in patients with cancer a proportion is derived from the tumor, thus making it potentially a useful source of DNA for cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring. © 2019 IUBMB Life, 71(9):1201–1210, 2019.