Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40361979›Full record

ReviewDiagnostics (Basel, Switzerland)2025

Circulating Cell-Free DNA as an Epigenetic Biomarker for Early Diabetic Retinopathy: A Narrative Review.

Boaz Li, Megan M Yim, Yu Xuan Jin, Brendan K Tao, Jim S Xie, Michael Balas, Haaris Khan, Wai-Ching Lam, Peng Yan, Eduardo V Navajas

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Boaz LiFaculty of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada.ORCID 0000-0002-6834-9466
Megan M YimFaculty of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada.
Yu Xuan JinFaculty of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada.ORCID 0009-0005-2200-2984
Brendan K TaoDepartment of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 2L9, Canada.ORCID 0000-0001-7069-3162
Jim S XieDepartment of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 2L9, Canada.
Michael BalasDepartment of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 2L9, Canada.ORCID 0000-0002-5948-0331
Haaris KhanDepartment of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V5Z 3N9, Canada.
Wai-Ching LamDepartment of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V5Z 3N9, Canada.
Peng YanDepartment of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 2L9, Canada.
Eduardo V NavajasDepartment of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V5Z 3N9, Canada.ORCID 0000-0001-5525-1913

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Diabetic retinopathy (DR), a complication of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), is typically asymptomatic in its early stages. Diagnosis typically relies on routine fundoscopy for the clinical detection of microvascular abnormalities. However, permanent retinal damage may occur well before clinical signs are appreciable. In the early stages of DR, the retina undergoes distinct epigenetic changes, including DNA methylation and histone modifications. Recent evidence supports unique epigenetic 'signatures' in patients with DR compared to non-diabetic controls. These DNA 'signature' sequences may be specific to the retina and may circulate in peripheral blood in the form of cell-free DNA (cfDNA). In this review, we explore the literature and clinical application of cfDNA sampling as an early, non-invasive, accessible assessment tool for early DR detection. First, we summarize the known epigenetic signatures of DR. Next, we review current sequencing technologies used for cfDNA detection, such as magnetic bead-based enrichment, next-generation sequencing, and bisulfite sequencing. Finally, we outline the current research limitations and emerging areas of study which aim to improve the clinical utility of cfDNA for DR evaluation.

Indexed as

biomarkercirculating cell-free DNAdiabetic retinopathyepigeneticpersonalized medicineprecision medicinesequencing

Identifiers

PMID40361979
PMCPMC12071738

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.