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 88
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
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Life is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- cell-free DNA (cfDNA)
- liquid biopsy
- metabolic diseases
- obesity
- type 2 diabetes
- non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
- methylation
- mutations
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
