Cell-Free DNA as a Biomarker in Metabolic Diseases
A special issue of Life (ISSN 2075-1729). This special issue belongs to the section "Medical Research".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 October 2025 | Viewed by 257
Special Issue Editor
2. Institute of Agri-Food and Life Sciences, University Research and Innovation Centre, Hellenic Mediterranean University, 71003 Heraklion, Greece
Interests: epigenetics; DNA methylation; biomarker; classifier; liquid biopsy; metabolic disease; diabetes; AutoML
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) has emerged as a valuable biomarker for metabolic diseases, offering a non-invasive approach to monitor disease progression, tissue-specific damage, and treatment response. Circulating cfDNA in blood, urine, saliva, etc., derived mainly from dying cells, carries mutations and epigenetic motifs, among others, that reflect the molecular landscape of metabolic disorders. Recent advances in detection methods such as droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) or next-generation sequencing (NGS) in cfDNA analysis have provided new insights into its potential as a diagnostic and prognostic tool in conditions such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), cardiovascular diseases, and metabolic syndrome.
This Special Issue of Life, entitled “Cell-Free DNA as a Biomarker in Metabolic Diseases”, aims to present the latest research on the role of cfDNA in the diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring of metabolic diseases, with a focus on the molecular mechanisms of disease pathogenesis and biomarker discovery. We invite original research and review articles exploring the biological function of cfDNA; the quantity and structure of cfDNA; and cfDNA (hydroxy)methylation, fragmentation patterns, and their correlation with metabolic dysfunction. We particularly encourage studies that employ novel sequencing technologies, bioinformatics approaches, and multi-omics integration in the study of cfDNA.
Through this Special Issue, we aim to advance the understanding of cfDNA biology, applications, and its translational potential in precision medicine for metabolic diseases.
Dr. Makrina Karaglani
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- cell-free DNA (cfDNA)
- liquid biopsy
- metabolic diseases
- obesity
- type 2 diabetes
- non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
- methylation
- mutations
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