Validation of QF-PCR for Rapid Prenatal Diagnosis of Common Chromosomal Aneuploidies in Korea

국문 초록 (Abstract)

목적 : QF-PCR법은 흔한 염색체 이수성에 대한 빠른 산전 진단을 가능하게 하는데, 낮은 가격, 빠른 속도, 그리고 자동화가 가능하여 한꺼번에 많은 검체에 대해 적용할 수 있다는 장점들이 있다. 하지만 아직까지 국내에서 QF-PCR법은 산전 염색체 이수성 선별검사로 주로 사용되는 방법이 아니다. 본 연구에서는 한국인에서 빠른 산전 진단을 목적으로 시행하는 짧은 염기서열 반복(short tandem repeats, STR) 표지자를 이용한 QF-PCR법의 수행능을 검증하고자 한다.
대상 및 방법 : 2007년에서 2009년까지 산전 염색체 이수성 선별을 목적으로 의뢰된 847개의 양수 검체에 대해 QF-PCR법을 시행하였는데 13번, 18번, 21번, X, Y염색체에 위치한 총 20개의 STR 표지자로 구성된 Elucigene kit (Gen-Probe, Abingdon, UK)를 사용하였다. 총 847개의 양수 검체에 대한QF-PCR 결과는 염색체 검사 결과와 비교하였고, STR 표지자의 정보력을 평가하기 위해서 각 표지자에 대해 이형접합체 지수(heterozygosity index)를 구하였다.
결과 : 총 847개 양수 검체에 대한 QF-PCR 검사 결과 19개(2.2%, 19/847)에서 13, 18, 21번 염색체와 X, Y염색체의 수적 이상이 관찰되었는데 염색체 검사에서도 동일한 결과를 보여100% 양성 예측율을 나타냈다. 하지만 염색체 검사 결과 7개(0.8%, 7/847) 검체에서 5개의 균형전좌와 2개의 불균형 염색체 이상이 관찰되었으나 QF-PCR에서는 진단되지 않았다. STR 표지자의 평균 이형접합체 지수(he-terozygosity index)는 0.76으로 서양인에서 보고된 0.8에 비해 다소 낮았다. 본 연구에서 D13S634표지자의 미세수준의 중복(submicroscopic duplication)이 1.4% (12/847)에서 관찰되었는데 이는 한국인에서 특징적인 소견으로 생각된다.
결론 : 본 기관에서는 산전 염색체 이수성 선별을 위한 QF-PCR법을 검증하였으며 효율적이고 신뢰할 수 있는 방법임이 입증되었다. 하지만 QF-PCR결과를 해석하기 위한 지침을 만들기 위해서 검사실마다 독립적으로 각각의 STR표지자에 대한 검증이 필요하며, 또한 QF-PCR법을 통상적인 염색체 검사 업무흐름에 통합하는 것이 필요하다고 사료된다.

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Purpose: Quantitative fluorescent polymerase chain reaction (QF-PCR) allows for the rapid prenatal diagnosis of common aneuploidies. The main advantages of this assay are its low cost, speed, and automation, allowing for large-scale application. However, despite these advantages, it is not a routine method for prenatal aneuploidy screening in Korea. Our objective in the present study was to validate the performance of QF-PCR using short tandem repeat (STR) markers in a Korean population as a means for rapid prenatal diagnosis.
Material and Methods: A QF-PCR assay using an Elucigene kit (Gen-Probe, Abingdon, UK), containing 20 STR markers located on chromosomes 13, 18, 21, X and Y, was performed on 847 amniotic fluid (AF) samples for prenatal aneuploidy screening referred for prenatal aneuploidy screening from 2007 to 2009. The results were then compared to those obtained using conventional cytogenetic analysis. To evaluate the informativity of STR markers, the heterozygosity index of each marker was determined in all the samples.
Results: Three autosomes (13, 18, and 21) and X and Y chromosome aneuploidies were detected in 19 cases (2.2%, 19/847) after QF-PCR analysis of the 847 AF samples. Their results are identical to those of conventional cytogenetic analysis, with 100% positive predictive value. However, after cytogenetic analysis, 7 cases (0.8%, 7/847) were found to have 5 balanced and 2 unbalanced chromosomal abnormalities that were not detected by QF-PCR. The STR markers had a slightly low heterozygosity index (average: 0.76) compared to those reported in Caucasians (average: 0.80). Submicroscopic duplication of D13S634 marker, which might be a unique finding in Koreans, was detected in 1.4% (12/847) of the samples in the present study.
Conclusion: A QF-PCR assay for prenatal aneuploidy screening was validated in our institution and proved to be efficient and reliable. However, we suggest that each laboratory must perform an independent validation test for each STR marker in order to develop interpretation guidelines of the results and must integrate QF-PCR into the routine cytogenetic laboratory workflow.

목차 (Table of Contents)

• Introduction
• Materials and Methods
• Results
• Discussion
• 국문초록
• References

참고문헌 (Reference)

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