[Extracellular DNA in the blood of pregnant women]

Abstract

The level of extracellular DNA increases in the blood of women during pregnancy. By means of PCR, the full-size Alu repeats were observed among extracellular blood DNA repeats of pregnant women. Furthermore, with Tc65 type primer the PCR method allowed to observe in the blood DNA fragments flanked by inverted Alu repeats (inter Alu repeats). The presence of such a type of inter Alu repeats was estimated in the blood of women being in the first trimester of pregnancy only, but was not estimated among blood DNA fragments of women of the last trimester of pregnancy. It is discussed which types of cells may serve as a source of extracellular blood DNA (either trophoblast cells, lymphocytes, or decidual cells), the significance of such DNA for pregnancy being appreciated.