Screening for myeloid mutations in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes and AML with myelodysplasia-related changes

ABSTRACT Introduction: One of the most critical complications in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) is the progression to acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The dynamics of clonal evolution in MDS and how acquired mutations can be used as biomarkers to track disease progression remains under investigation. Objective and method: Herein, we investigated the frequency of common myeloid clonal mutations (FLT3, NPM1, JAK2, IDH1 and IDH2) in 88 patients with MDS and 35 AML patients with myelodysplasia-related changes, followed at a single reference center in northeastern Brazil. Results: Overall, 9/88 (10%) ofthe MDSpatients and 9/35 (26%) of the secondary AML patients had at least one mutation. While the JAK2 V617F mutation was the most frequent in the MDS patients, the FLT3, NPM1, IDH1 and IDH2 mutations were more frequently found in the secondary AML group. Furthermore, there was a higher frequency of FLT3, NPM1, IDH1 and IDH2 mutations in MDS patients classified as high-risk subtypes than in those of lower risk. Conclusion: Despite the limited sample size, our data suggest that mutations in FLT3, NPM1, IDH1 and IDH2 genes could be potential biomarkers to detect early disease progression in MDS.

Rare α0-thalassemia deletions detected by MLPA in five unrelated Brazilian patients

Abstract Alpha-thalassemias are among the most common genetic diseases in the world. They are characterized by hypochromic and microcytic anemia and great clinical variability, ranging from a practically asymptomatic phenotype to severe anemia, which can lead to intrauterine or early neonatal death. Deletions affecting the α-globin genes, located on chromosome 16p13.3, are the main causes of α-thalassemia. Multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) can be used to detect rearrangements that cause α-thalassemia, particularly large deletions involving the whole α cluster and/or deletions in the HS-40 region. Here, MLPA was used to investigate the molecular basis of α-thalassemia in five unrelated patients, three of whom had Hb H disease. In addition to the -α3.7 deletion identified in the patients with Hb H disease, four different α0 deletions removing 15 to 225 kb DNA segments were found: two of them remove both the α genes, one affects only the regulatory element (HS-40) region, and another one extends over the entire α cluster and the HS-40 region. These results illustrate the diversity of α-thalassemia deletions in the Brazilian population and highlight the importance of molecular investigation in cases that present with microcytosis and hypochromia without iron deficiency and normal or reduced Hb A2 levels..

Telomere length correlates with disease severity and inflammation in sickle cell disease

ABSTRACT Background: Telomeres, the ends of linear chromosomes, shorten during mitotic cell division and erosion may be aggravated by inflammation or proliferative and oxidative stress. As the bone marrow is under hyperproliferative pressure in sickle cell disease and several tissues are submitted to chronic inflammation, this study sought to determine the telomere length of patients with sickle cell disease. Methods: The mean telomere length was measured in peripheral blood leukocytes by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The age-adjusted telomere to single copy gene ratio was compared between 91 adult sickle cell disease patients and 188 controls. Results: Sickle cell disease patients had significantly shorter telomeres than the controls (p-value < 0.0001). Moreover, among sickle cell disease genotypes, Hb SS patients had significantly shorter telomeres compared to Hb SC and Hb Sβ patients (p-value < 0.0001). Patients on hydroxyurea also had shorter telomeres in comparison to those off the drug (p-value = 0.02). A positive correlation was observed between telomere length and hemoglobin level (r = 0.3; p-value = 0.004), whereas negative correlations were detected between telomere length and lymphocyte count (r = -0.3; p-value = 0.005) and interleukin-8 serum levels (r = -0.4; p-value = 0.02). Conclusions: The findings of this study indicate that telomeres are short in sickle cell disease patients and that telomere erosion directly correlates with disease genotype, inflammation markers, and the use of hydroxyurea.

Hb H disease resulting from the association of an αº-thalassemia allele [-(α)20.5] with an unstable α-globin variant [Hb Icaria]: First report on the occurrence in Brazil

Hb H Disease is caused by the loss or inactivation of three of the four functional a-globin genes. Patients present chronic hemolytic anemia and splenomegaly. In some cases, occasional blood transfusions are required. Deletions are the main cause of this type of thalassemia (α-thalassemia). We describe here an unusual case of Hb H disease caused by the combination of a common αº deletion [-(α)20.5] with a rare point mutation (c.427T > A), thus resulting in an elongated and unstable α-globin variant, Hb Icaria, (X142K), with 31 additional amino-acid residues. Very high levels of Hb H and Hb Bart's were detected in the patient's red blood cells (14.7 and 19.0 percent, respectively). This is the first description of this infrequent association in the Brazilian population.

Identificação e caracterização de variantes novas e raras da hemoglobina humana: [revisão] / Identification of characterization of novel and rare variants of human hemoglobin: [review]

As anormalidades estruturais da hemoglobina estão entre as doenças genéticas mais comumente encontradas nas populações humanas. O Laboratório de Hemoglobinopatias do Departamento de Patologia Clínica da Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Universidade Estadual de Campinas - Unicamp, localizado em Campinas, no estado de São Paulo, região Sudeste do Brasil, realizou, em seus 27 anos de existência, cerca de 130.000 diagnósticos. Entre as variantes estruturais detectadas, as hemoglobinas S, C e D-Punjab foram, como esperado, as mais freqüentes, porém um número expressivo de outras hemoglobinas anômalas, novas e raras, também foi encontrado. Esses achados estão sumarizados no presente artigo.

Hemoglobin structural abnormalities are among the most commonly found human genetic diseases. The Laboratory of Hemoglobinopathies in the Clinical Pathology Department of the Medical Sciences School of the State University in Campinas - Unicamp, São Paulo, Southeastern Brazil, carried out, in its 27 years of activity, about 130,000 diagnoses. As expected, hemoglobins S, C and D were the most frequently observed variants, but an expressive number of other abnormal, novel and rare hemoglobins, was also detected. These findings are summarized in the present article.

A mutação JAK2 V617F e as síndromes mieloproliferativas / JAK2 V617F mutation and the myeloproliferative disorders

Síndromes mieloproliferativas (SMPs) são doenças hematopoéticas de origem clonal que apresentam amplificação de uma ou mais linhagens mielóides. Policitemia vera (PV), trombocitemia essencial (TE), mielofibrose idiopática (MF) e leucemia mielóide crônica (LMC) são consideradas SMPs clássicas e apresentam características clínicas e biológicas comuns. Ao contrário de LMC, cuja etiologia está relacionada à proteína constitutivamente ativa Bcr-Abl, o mecanismo molecular de PV, TE e MF permaneceu por muito tempo desconhecido. Esta revisão se foca na recente descoberta da mutação JAK2 V617F em pacientes com PV, TE e MF, sua relação com o fenótipo mieloproliferativo e implicações na abordagem clínica de pacientes.

Myeloproliferative disorders are clonal hematopoietic diseases that are characterized by the amplification of one or more myeloid lineages. Polycythemia vera, essential thrombocythemia, idiopathic myelofibrosis and chronic myeloid leukemia are considered classic myeloproliferative disorders and share common clinical and biological features. While the genetic basis of chronic myeloid leukemia is shown to be the constitutive active protein BCR-ABL, the main molecular lesions in polycythemia vera, essential thrombocythemia and idiopathic myelofibrosis remain unknown. This review focuses on the recent discovery of the JAK2 V617F mutation, its relationship to the myeloproliferative phenotype and implications in the clinical approach of patients.

Quelação oral de ferro na Beta-Talassemia / Oral Iron chelation therapy in Beta-Thalassaemia

A quelação do ferro com deferroxamina (DFO) melhorou dramaticamente o prognóstico de pacientes com beta talassemia. A DFO reduz os estoques de ferro, bem como a morbidade e mortalidade destes pacientes. No entanto, a necessidade de infusões parenterais prolongadas estimulou a busca por novos quelantes. Deferiprone (DP) é o único quelante oral em uso clínico e já avaliado em estudos clínicos. A terapia combinada com DP e DFO surgiu como alternativa para pacientes talassêmicos. Ela tem o potencial de minimizar os efeitos adversos, aumentar a adesão e a eficácia, e, talvez, atingir compartimentos distintos de ferro no organismo. A disponibilização de novos quelantes e métodos de avaliação do ferro no organismo poderá permitir a individualização do tratamento quelante

Iron chelation therapy with desferrioxamine (DFO) hasdramatically improved the outlook in beta-thalassaemiapatients. DFO reduces tissue iron stores, prevents ironinducedorgan damage, and reduces morbidity andmortality. However, the need for prolongedsubcutaneous portable pump infusions, high cost, andpatient noncompliance have prompted thedevelopment of new iron chelators. Deferiprone, is theonly oral iron chelator in clinical use and has beenstudied in large long-termclinical trials. Combinationtherapy with deferiprone and DFO has emerged as anew alternative for beta-thalassaemia patients.Combination therapy may minimize side effects,improve compliance, enhance iron excretion and targetspecific iron pools. The availability of new chelatingcompounds and new methods for body-iron storeevaluation may lead to individualized therapy in thefuture.

Diagnosis of hepatitis C virus in Brazilian blood donors using a reverse transcriptase nested polymerase chain reaction: comparison with enzyme immunoassay and recombinant protein immunoblot assay

Screening blood donations for anti-HCV antibodies and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) serum levels generally prevents the transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) by transfusion. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficiency of the enzyme immunoassay (EIA) screening policy in identifying potentially infectious blood donors capable to transmit hepatitis C through blood transfusion. We have used a reverse transcriptase (RT)-nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to investigate the presence of HCV-RNA in blood donors. The prevalence of HCV-RNA positive individuals was compared with the recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA-2) results in order to assess the usefulness of both tests as confirmatory assays. Both tests results were also compared with the EIA-2 OD/C ratio (optical densities of the samples divided by the cut off value). ALT results were expressed as the ALT quotient (qALT), calculated dividing the ALT value of the samples by the maximum normal value (53UI/l) for the method. Donors (n=178) were divided into five groups according to their EIA anti-HCV status and qALT: group A (EIA > or = 3, ALT<1), group B (EIA > or = 3, ALT>1), group C (1<=EIA<3, ALT<1), group D (1<=EIA<3, ALT>1) and group E (EIA<=0.7). HCV sequences were detected by RT-nested PCR, using primers for the most conserved region of viral genome. RIBA-2 was applied to the same samples. In group A (n=6), all samples were positive by RT-nested PCR and RIBA-2. Among 124 samples in group B, 120 (96.8 percent) were RIBA-2 positive and 4 (3.2 percent) were RIBA-2 indeterminate but were seropositive for antigen c22.3. In group B, 109 (87.9 percent) of the RIBA-2 positive samples were also RT-nested PCR positive, as well as were all RIBA-2 indeterminate samples. In group C, all samples (n=9) were RT-nested PCR negative: 4 (44.4 percent) were also RIBA-2 negative, 4 (44.4 percent) were RIBA-2 positive and 1 (11.1 percent) was RIBA-2 indeterminate. HCV-RNA was detected by RT-nested PCR in 3 (37.5 percent) out of 8 samples in group D. Only one of them was also RIBA-2 positive, all the others were RIBA-2 indeterminate. All of the group E samples (controls) were RT- nested PCR and RIBA-2 negative. Our study suggests a strong relation between anti-HCV EIA-2 ratio > or = 3 and detectable HCV-RNA by RT-nested PCR. We have also noted that blood donors with RIBA-2 indeterminate presented a high degree of detectable HCV-RNA using RT-nested PCR...

Genotyping of Kell, Duffy, kidd and RHD in patients with B Thalassemia

A determinaçäo dos fenótipos Rh, Kell, Duffy e Kidd, associada ao ABO é utilizada para prevenir a aloimunizaçäo a antígenos eritrocitários e participam também no processo de identificaçäo de anticorpos nos pacientes com B talassemia. Todavia, a fenotipagem desses pacientes é trabalhosa e de difícil interpretaçäo. Nesta situaçäo, deve ser avaliada uma alternativa ao teste de hemaglutinaçäo para determinar o padräo antigênico dos pacientes. Utilizamos para tal fim o método PCR-RFLP. Foram preparados DNAs de 50 pacientes com Btalassemia que haviam sido anteriormente fenotipados pela hamglutinaçäo e testados para Kell, Kidd, Duffy/GATA mutaçäo por PCR-RFLP. RHD/näo-D foi analisado pelo tamanho do produto, do PCR associado à seqüência do gene RHD no intron 4 e exon 10/3' UTR. Os testes de genotipagem foram realizados sem o conhecimento dos resultados dos fenótipos. Para os RHD/näo-D, 47 foram RHD+ e RHD+/RHCE+, e 3 foram RHD- e RHD-/RHCE+. Para o Kell, 48 kk foram K2K2 e 2 Kk foram K1K2. Para o Duffy, das 44 amostras que haviam sido normais, GATA box, 8 Fy(a+b-)foram FYA/FYA, 15Fy(a+b-) foram FYB/FYB; e 19 Fy(a+b+) foram FYA/FYB; das outras 4 amostras, 3 foram FYA/FYB; homozigoto GATA mutaçäo. Duas amostras fenotipadas como Fy(a+b-), que eram normais GATA, apresentavam as mutaçöes 265T/298a e 2 amostras fenotipadas como Fy(a+b+) haviam sido genotipadas como FYA/FYB. Para o Kidd, 15Jk(a+b+) foram JKA/JKA, 12jk(aa-b+) foram JKB/JKB, e 20 jk(a+b+) haviam sido genotipadas como JKB/JKB. A genotipagem é mais acurada que a fenotipagem para determinaçäo de grupos sangüíneos em pacientes portadores de B talassemia poli transfundidos. A genotipagem nesses pacientes pode ser importante para selecionar hemácias antigenicamente negativas para transfusäo de glóbulos vermelhos.

Mutaçöes no gene MYOC/TIGR em uma populaçäo brasileira com glaucoma juvenil e glaucoma primário de ângulo aberto / Mutations in the MYOC/TIGR gene in a Brazilian population with juvenile glaucoma and primary open angle glaucoma

Objetivo: Avaliar a frequência e o tipo de mutaçäo no gene ''trabecular meshwork-induced glucocorticoid response protein'' (MYOC/TIGR) entre pacientes com glaucoma primário de ângulo aberto (GPAA) e glaucoma juvenil de ângulo aberto (GJAA). Métodos: DNA genômico foi extraído a partir de sangue periférico de pacientes com GPAA e GJAA. Posteriormente foram realizados PCR e SSCP para identificar possíveis mutaçöes no gene MYOC/TIGR, os quais foram confirmados por meio de análise por sequenciamento. Resultados: Foram estudados dezenove pacientes com GJAA. Oito pacientes (42 por cento) apresentaram uma mutaçäo no codon 433 (exon 3), ocasionando a substituiçäo de uma cisteína (TGT) por uma arginina (CGT). Entre os pacientes com GPAA (n = 52), foram encontrados dois (3,8 por cento) com mutaçäo no gene MYOC/TIGR. Um deles mostrou uma mutaçäo de ponto no aminoácido 368, substituindo uma glutamina por um codon de terminaçäo e o outro paciente apresentou a mesma mutaçäo observada nos pacientes com GJAA. Conclusäo: Identificou-se uma nova mutaçäo no gene MYOC/TIGR em pacientes brasileiros com GPAA e GJAA. A ocorrência de mutaçöes no gene MYOC/TIGR em 42 por cento dos pacientes com GJAA assim como em 3,8 por cento dos pacientes com GPAA poderia ser maior, uma vez que o gene näo foi estudado em sua totalidade (apenas 400 pb do exon 3).

Hb Köln [alfa2ß298(FG5) val-met] identified by DNA analysis in a Brazilian family

Hb Köln resulta da substituiçäo do aminoácido valina por metionina na posiçäo 98 da cadeia da hemoglobina. Embora seja a mais freqüente das hemoglobinas instáveis, possui poucas características que permitem distinguí-las sem a realizaçäo de análise estrutural da molécula. Com o objetivo de desenvolver um procedimento alernativo a análise proteíca, este trabalho descreve a identificaçäo da Hb Köln através de análise de DNA. Uma paciente branca, sexo feminino, 4 anos de idade, com icterícia desde o nascimento, foi analisada, apresentando uma banda anômala entre A2 e S em eletroforese em acetato de celulose, e migraçäo eletroforética semelhante a Hb C em gel de agar. Os testes de instabilidade térmica e de precipitaçäo pelo isopropanol foram positivos e foram observados corpúsculos de Heinz no sangue periférico. Os três exons do gene da globina foram seqüenciados e uma transiçäo de G A foi identificada na primeira posiçäo do codon 98. Essa alteraçäo näo cria ou abole nenhum sítio conhecido de enzima de restriçäo. Desta forma, a confirmaçäo da mutaçäo foi levada a efeito através de hibridizaçäo com oligonucleotídeos alelo-específicos, o que permitiu o estabelecimento de um método simples e rápido de identificaçäo de novos casos quando os dados clínicos e o padräo hematológico e eletroforético sugerem Hb Köln.

Diagnóstico pré-natal da talassemia beta / Prenatal diagnosis of beta thalassemia

Demosntramos nossa recente experiência na realizaçäo de diagnóstico pré-natal da talassemia beta no Hospital Universitário da Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da UNICAMP. O casal estudado tem um filho homozigoto para a talassemia beta e está em curso a segunda gestaçäo. A análise molecular mostra que o feto é heterozigoto para o alelo beta (C-T)