Oxidative DNA Damage Assessment and Biomarker Detection
Summary
Oxidative DNA damage arises when reactive oxygen species interact with the nucleobases and sugar backbone of genomic material, generating a spectrum of lesions that compromise genomic integrity. Among these, 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) is the most extensively studied, serving as a sentinel indicator of oxidative insult in both nuclear and mitochondrial DNA. Assessment of these lesions has evolved from bulk measurements of oxidised free bases in biological fluids to locus-specific analyses that distinguish subcellular origins, reflecting diverse pathological and physiological processes. Advances in chromatographic separation coupled with sensitive detection platforms, immunochemical assays and next-generation sequencing have extended our capability to quantify DNA lesions in plasma, urine, tissues and single cells. Parallel efforts have focused on identifying and validating reliable biomarkers that translate lesion burden into actionable metrics of disease risk, environmental exposure, ageing and therapeutic response. Together, methodological refinements and biomarker discovery underpin a growing consensus that quantitative profiling of oxidative DNA damage will inform precision diagnostics, prognostic stratification and the evaluation of antioxidant interventions in human health and disease.
Research from Nature Portfolio
Recent studies have refined non-invasive quantification of oxidative DNA damage in clinical cohorts. A sensitive ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry approach has been developed for the selective measurement of urinary 8-OHdG, employing off-line solid-phase extraction with an acetic-acid-enhanced mobile phase to boost detection sensitivity several-fold. Application of this method to healthy volunteers and patients with colorectal cancer revealed significantly elevated urinary 8-OHdG in malignancy and metastatic disease, supporting its potential utility as a liquid biomarker for cancer risk assessment and early detection. The favourable analytical performance and clinical correlates of urinary 8-OHdG underscore its role as a foundation for translational studies in oncology and beyond.
Oxidative DNA Damage Assessment and Biomarker Detection publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in oxidative dna damage assessment and biomarker detection across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Reactive oxygen species (ROS): Chemically reactive molecules derived from oxygen, including free radicals and peroxides, that can damage DNA, proteins and lipids.
8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG): An oxidised form of the DNA nucleoside deoxyguanosine, widely used as a biomarker of oxidative DNA damage.
Immunoprecipitation (IP): A technique that uses a specific antibody to isolate and enrich a target molecule, such as oxidised DNA, from a complex mixture.
Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR): A method to amplify and quantify specific DNA sequences, enabling measurement of lesion-containing genomic regions.
High-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection (HPLC-ECD): A separation technique paired with an electrochemical sensor to detect oxidised nucleobases at high sensitivity.
Immunofluorescence: A microscopy method that employs fluorescently labelled antibodies to visualise specific antigens, such as DNA lesions, in fixed cells and tissues.
References
- Quantitation of oxidized nuclear and mitochondrial DNA in plasma samples of patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm. Free Radical Biology and Medicine (2023).
- Automated determination of 8-OHdG in cells and tissue via immunofluorescence using a specially created antibody. Biotechnology Reports (2024).
- Association between Oxidative DNA Damage and Risk of Colorectal Cancer: Sensitive Determination of Urinary 8-Hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine by UPLC-MS/MS Analysis. Scientific Reports (2016).
- 8-oxoguanine and 8-oxodeoxyguanosine Biomarkers of Oxidative DNA Damage: A Review on HPLC–ECD Determination. Molecules (2022).
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