Novel Liquid Biopsy Biomarkers and Multi-Omic Integration in Metabolic Diseases

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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