Children’s health, from congenital and genetic to acquired diseases, is an issue of undisputed and crucial health interest. Caring for the health of young children is not only a priority for the medical world, but an act of love and responsibility to the future. In pediatric patients, diseases may present different symptoms than in adults, often requiring unique diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. In this context, the study of DNA and RNA within cells is critical to understanding the origin and development of diseases.
Che funzioni svolgono il DNA e l’RNA?
DNA contains all the genetic information necessary for the development and functioning of the organism, while RNA plays an essential role in the transmission of this information, helping to translate it into the production of proteins-what we might call the “building blocks” of life.
Precisely because of their function, alterations in DNA or RNA can lead to genetic diseases or influence how cells respond to infection or inflammation. As a result, DNA and RNA research offers new diagnostic and therapeutic possibilities, especially for complex and difficult-to-define pediatric conditions.
Il potenziale dell’RNA libero per la salute dei bambini
A Cornell University research team has developed an innovative diagnostic tool that uses free RNA found in blood plasma to identify inflammatory diseases in children. RNA is known for its role in the transmission of genetic information and protein synthesis, but it can also be released into plasma: from dying cells or through an active process.
This feature was exploited by the Cornell research team to distinguish different pediatric inflammatory conditions, such as Kawasaki disease (KD), Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C), and viral and bacterial infections.
Led by Professor Iwijn De Vlaminck, through collaboration with the University of California, the New York team used machine learning (Artificial Intelligence) to analyze free RNA samples and develop models that can recognize specific biomarkers of these diseases. This approach enables accurate and rapid diagnosis, which is critical to avoid serious complications.
The research, published in September 2024, in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, involved the analysis of 370 plasma samples from children. The method uses RNA sequencing to trace the origin of damage to specific organs, offering new insight into inflammatory responses in children.
Although free RNA has already been used as a biomarker for other pathological conditions, such as oncological diseases, its use in the diagnosis of inflammatory diseases is still little explored. This study demonstrates the potential of free RNA to provide crucial information about children’s health.
The research project grew out of a National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded collaboration that began four years ago to study severe cases of COVID-19 and MIS-C in children. This work opens up new possibilities for monitoring and early detection of pediatric diseases, improving early treatment options and reducing the risk of long-term complications.
The article RNA: the unknown one becoming a diagnostic tool in pediatric inflammatory diseases comes from TheNewyorker.
