Extracellular Deoxyribonucleic Acid (eDNA) (eDNA)

Extracellular deoxyribonucleic acid (eDNA) is a major pathological component of the thick, viscous mucus found in the airways of patients with cystic fibrosis and other chronic inflammatory lung diseases. This DNA is primarily released from the nuclei of degenerating neutrophils that accumulate in the lungs to fight chronic bacterial infections. The presence of high-molecular-weight eDNA significantly increases the viscoelasticity of sputum, which impairs mucociliary clearance and provides a structural scaffold for bacterial biofilms. Dornase alfa, a recombinant form of the human enzyme deoxyribonuclease I, is used therapeutically to target and degrade this eDNA. By enzymatically cleaving the DNA into smaller fragments, dornase alfa reduces the thickness of the mucus, making it easier for patients to clear secretions and improving overall pulmonary function. This treatment is a cornerstone in managing the respiratory symptoms and reducing the frequency of pulmonary exacerbations in cystic fibrosis patients [1][2][4].

Other names

Extracellular DNACell-free DNAcfDNANeutrophil Extracellular Traps DNAeDNA

Dornase alfa is a recombinant human deoxyribonuclease I (rhDNase) that enzymatically cleaves the phosphodiester bonds of extracellular DNA, leading to the hydrolysis and fragmentation of high-molecular-weight DNA into shorter oligonucleotides, which reduces the viscosity of purulent secretions [1][2].