Noninvasive in vivo monitoring of tissue-specific global gene expression in humans

Circulating cell-free RNA in the blood provides a potential window into the health, phenotype, and developmental programs of a variety of human organs. We used high-throughput methods of RNA analysis such as microarrays and next-generation sequencing to characterize the global landscape of circulating RNA in human subjects. By focusing on tissue-specific genes, we were able to identify the relative contributions of these tissues to circulating RNA and monitor changes during tissue development and neurodegenerative disease states.