Scientists have displayed the viability of focused gene expression analysis of target fetal genes present in amniotic fluid by applying Standardized NanoArray PCR (SNAP) technology.
This analysis can be utilized for monitoring fetal growth by allowing physicians to determine whether the organ systems of the fetus are developing properly at an early stage of pregnancy.
Researchers from Prevail Dx, the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and the Floating Hospital for Children at Tufts Medical Center have determined that out of the 21 genes assayed, 7 were expressed differently based on gestational age or fetal sex. The analysis was done using the already developed SNAP gene panel. Results were derived from samples of amniotic fluid supernatant taken from fetuses with a gestation period ranging from 15 to 20 weeks, during the standard amniotic fluid test procedure.
With SNAP technology, quantitative assessment of a varying range of genes from tens to hundreds can be done simultaneously from samples of degraded and reduced nucleic acids in order to solve the quality concern issues related to processing of humans’ primary samples. A single assay can be used to quantify gene expression varying up to five orders of magnitude.
Lauren J. Massingham, MD, Division of Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, Floating Hospital for Children, stated that in future, gene expression panels can be helpful in prenatal care for evaluating function during fetal pathologies and at-risk pregnancies. Some genes found in the present panel serve as useful components in the fetal gene expression panel, he added. According to the researchers, further discoveries utilizing this gene panel technique could explain the complicated immune pathways related to the mother-fetus relationship.
Source: http://www.asia.elsevierhealth.com/