Clinical use of circulating nucleosomes

Nucleosomes, complexes of DNA and histone proteins, are released from dying and stressed cells into the blood circulation. Concentrations of circulating nucleosomes in plasma and serum are frequently found to be elevated in various cancers, and also in such acute conditions as stroke, trauma, and se...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Critical reviews in clinical laboratory sciences 2009, Vol.46 (1), p.1-24
Main Authors: Holdenrieder, Stefan, Stieber, Petra
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Apoptosis - physiology
autoimmune disease
Autoimmune diseases
Autoimmune Diseases - diagnosis
Blood
Cancer
Chemotherapy
Chromatin
Deoxyribonucleic acid
diagnosis
Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures
DNA
Humans
Inflammation - diagnosis
monitoring
Neoplasms - diagnosis
Nucleosomes
Nucleosomes - chemistry
Nucleosomes - metabolism
Nucleosomes - physiology
plasma
prognosis
Proteins
sepsis
serum
Signal Transduction - physiology
staging
stroke
Stroke - diagnosis
therapy
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Summary:Nucleosomes, complexes of DNA and histone proteins, are released from dying and stressed cells into the blood circulation. Concentrations of circulating nucleosomes in plasma and serum are frequently found to be elevated in various cancers, and also in such acute conditions as stroke, trauma, and sepsis as well as in autoimmune diseases. The first part of this review focuses on the structural and functional properties of nucleosomes, the potential sources of nucleosome release into the circulation, the metabolism of circulating nucleosomes, and their pathophysiological role in disease. It goes on to describe the relevance of circulating nucleosomes in the diagnosis and prognosis of non-malignant conditions such as sepsis, stroke, and autoimmune disease. Finally, it describes the clinical value of nucleosomes in the diagnosis, staging, prognosis, and monitoring of therapy in cancer; in particular, their potential as a new diagnostic tool for the early estimation of response to cytotoxic cancer therapy is emphasized.
ISSN:1040-8363
1549-781X
DOI:10.1080/10408360802485875