Fetal cells in the maternal circulation: feasibility for prenatal diagnosis

Since the introduction of ultrasound into obstetrics during the 1960s, there has been rapid progress in the detection of genetic and nongenetic defects in utero. With the development of sampling procedures like amniocentesis, chorionic villus sampling (CVS) and fetal blood sampling, the obstetrician has been able to obtain fetal tissue and the parallel improvement in laboratory techniques has allowed the diagnosis of chromosomal anomalies and single gene defects from fetal cells. Amniocentesis and CVS have become well established techniques for routine prenatal diagnosis of chromosomal and metabolic disorders and fetal tissue is now accessible throughout all three trimesters.

Download Full-text

Prenatal diagnosis of triploidy using fetal cells in the maternal circulation

Prenatal Diagnosis ◽

10.1002/(sici)1097-0223(199704)17:4<389::aid-pd84>3.0.co;2-i ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 17 (4) ◽

pp. 389-389 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

A. Pezzolo ◽

F. Santi ◽

V. Pistoia ◽

P. De Biasio

Keyword(s):

Prenatal Diagnosis ◽

Maternal Circulation ◽

Fetal Cells

Download Full-text

Trophoblasts Isolated from the Maternal Circulation: In Vitro Expansion and Potential Application in Non-invasive Prenatal Diagnosis

Journal of Histochemistry & Cytochemistry ◽

10.1369/jhc.4b6426.2005 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 53 (3) ◽

pp. 337-339 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Esther Guetta ◽

Liat Gutstein-Abo ◽

Gad Barkai

Keyword(s):

Prenatal Diagnosis ◽

Maternal Blood ◽

Male Fetus ◽

Maternal Circulation ◽

Fetal Cells ◽

Non Invasive ◽

In Vitro Expansion ◽

Feasible Option

Prenatal diagnosis based on rare fetal cells in maternal blood is currently not a feasible option. An effort was made to improve cell yields by targeting trophoblast cells. After sorting, the HLA-G-positive cell fraction was analyzed directly or after culture. In situ hybridization technology was applied to prove fetal cell source in samples from women carrying a male fetus and to predict gender in samples without previous knowledge of fetal sex. In vitro culture led to a significant increase in fetal cells and accurate gender prediction in 93% of these samples. This approach might be useful for non-invasive prenatal diagnosis.

Download Full-text

Isolation and Enrichment of Circulating Fetal Cells for NIPD: An Overview

Diagnostics ◽

10.3390/diagnostics11122239 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (12) ◽

pp. 2239

Author(s):

Giulia Sabbatinelli ◽

Donatella Fantasia ◽

Chiara Palka ◽

Elisena Morizio ◽

Melissa Alfonsi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Prenatal Diagnosis ◽

High Efficiency ◽

Diagnostic Testing ◽

Genetic Research ◽

Clinical Genetics ◽

Maternal Circulation ◽

Fetal Cells ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Prenatal Diagnostic ◽

Maternal Peripheral Blood

Prenatal diagnosis plays a crucial role in clinical genetics. Non-invasive prenatal diagnosis using fetal cells circulating in maternal peripheral blood has become the goal of prenatal diagnosis, to obtain complete fetal genetic information and avoid risks to mother and fetus. The development of high-efficiency separation technologies is necessary to obtain the scarce fetal cells from the maternal circulation. Over the years, multiple approaches have been applied, including choice of the ideal cell targets, different cell recovering technologies, and refined cell isolation yield procedures. In order to provide a useful tool and to give insights about limitations and advantages of the technologies available today, we review the genetic research on the creation and validation of non-invasive prenatal diagnostic testing protocols based on the rare and labile circulating fetal cells during pregnancy.

Download Full-text

PRENATAL DIAGNOSIS USING FETAL CELLS IN THE MATERNAL CIRCULATION

Journal of Perinatal Medicine ◽

10.1515/jpme.1990.18.s1.39 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 18 (s1) ◽

pp. 39-39

Author(s):

Mitchell S. Golbus ◽

Jane Chueh

Keyword(s):

Prenatal Diagnosis ◽

Maternal Circulation ◽

Fetal Cells

Download Full-text

Application of a method for prenatal diagnosis from fetal cells in maternal circulation

Placenta ◽

10.1016/s0143-4004(05)80514-4 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 14 (4) ◽

pp. A24

Author(s):

D. Gänshirt-Ahlert ◽

R. Börjesson-Stoll ◽

M. Burschyk ◽

A. Dohr ◽

H.S.P. Garritsen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Prenatal Diagnosis ◽

Maternal Circulation ◽

Fetal Cells

Download Full-text

HARVESTING FETAL CELLS FROM THE MATERNAL CIRCULATION

Fetal and Maternal Medicine Review ◽

10.1017/s0965539505001488 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 16 (2) ◽

pp. 151-177 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

ALEC McEWAN

Keyword(s):

Prenatal Diagnosis ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Pulmonary Circulation ◽

Blood Cells ◽

White Blood Cells ◽

Maternal Blood ◽

Maternal Circulation ◽

Fetal Cells ◽

Y Chromosomes ◽

Made In

Schmorl is generally credited with being the first to report finding fetal cells in maternal blood. In 1893 he identified trophoblasts in the pulmonary circulation of women who had died of eclampsia. Years later, in 1969, Walnowska identified Y chromosomes in lymphocytes isolated from the blood of pregnant women carrying male fetuses and this was repeated by Herzenberg in 1979 in white blood cells recognised as fetal by their surface HLA-A2 expression. Other sporadic reports followed but not until the 1990's did investigation into harvesting fetal cells from maternal blood begin in earnest. The aim of this article is to review the progress made in isolating and analysing these cells for the purposes of prenatal diagnosis.

Download Full-text