SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Anemia-A Focus on RBC Deformability and Membrane Proteomics-Integrated Observational Prospective Study.

INTRODUCTION: The multifaceted impact of COVID-19 extends beyond the respiratory system, encompassing intricate interactions with various physiological systems. This study elucidates the potential association between SARS-CoV-2 infection and anemia, with a particular emphasis on the deformability of red blood cells (RBCs), stability of hemoglobin, enzymatic activities, and proteomic profiles. METHODS: The study encompasses a cohort of 74 individuals, including individuals positive for COVID-19, a control group, and patients with other viral infections to discern the specific effects attributable to COVID-19. The analysis of red blood cells was focused on deformability measured by osmotic gradient ektacytometry, hemoglobin stability, and glycolytic enzyme activity. Furthermore, membrane proteins were examined using advanced proteomics techniques to capture molecular-level changes. RESULTS: Findings from the study suggest a correlation between anemia and exacerbated outcomes in COVID-19 patients, marked by significant elevations in d-dimer, serum procalcitonin, creatinine, and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels. These observations suggest that chronic kidney disease (CKD) may play a role in the development of anemia in COVID-19 patients, particularly those of advanced age with comorbidities. Furthermore, the proteomic analyses have highlighted a complex relationship between omics data and RBC parameters, enriching our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the disease. CONCLUSIONS: This research substantiates the complex interrelationship between COVID-19 and anemia, with a specific emphasis on the potential repercussions of SARS-CoV-2 infection on RBCs. The findings contribute to the growing body of evidence supporting the extensive impact of COVID-19 on RBCs.

Diagnosis, monitoring, and management of pyruvate kinase deficiency in children.

Pyruvate kinase (PK) deficiency is a rare, congenital red blood cell disorder caused by a single gene defect. The spectrum of genotypes, variants, and phenotypes are broad, commonly requiring a multimodal approach including enzyme and genetic testing for accurate and reliable diagnosis. Similarly, management of primary and secondary sequelae of PK deficiency varies, mainly including supportive care with transfusions and surgical interventions to improve symptoms and quality of life. Given the risk of acute and long-term complications of PK deficiency and its treatment, regular monitoring and management of iron burden and organ dysfunction is critical. Therefore, all children and adolescents with PK deficiency should receive regular hematology care with visits at least every 6 months regardless of transfusion status. We continue to learn more about the spectrum of symptoms and complications of PK deficiency and best practice for monitoring and management through registry efforts (NCT03481738). The treatment of PK deficiency has made strides over the last few years with newer disease-modifying therapies being developed and studied, with the potential to change the course of disease in childhood and beyond.

Rare hereditary nonspherocytic hemolytic anemia caused by a novel homozygous mutation, c.301C > A, (Q101K), in the AK1 gene in an Indian family.

BACKGROUND: Adenylate kinase (AK) deficiency is a rare red cell enzymopathy associated with moderate to severe congenital nonspherocytic hemolytic anemia, along with mental and psychomotor retardation (in exceptional cases). Only ten mutations have been detected in the AK1 gene to date. In this study, we aimed to diagnose the unexplained issue of haemolytic anaemia and offer antenatal screening to the family. METHODS: Genomic DNA was isolated from whole blood by a standard protocol. Targeted next-generation sequencing (t-NGS) was performed to identify pathogenic variants in the patient and control samples. A chronic villus sample was collected at 11 weeks of gestation from the mother, and molecular testing was performed. Genetic confirmation was concluded by Sanger DNA sequencing. Bioinformatics tools predicted the pathogenicity of the variant. RESULTS: t-NGS revealed a homozygous variant (c.301C > A, p. Gln101Lys) in the AK1 gene in the patient and heterozygosity in the fetus and parental samples. The prediction tools SIFT, Polyphen2, Provean, PMUT, Mutation taster, and Mutation Assessor, confirmed the damaging effect of the variant on the AK1 protein structure CONCLUSION: We have presented a novel mutation in the AK1 gene (p. Gln101Lys) associated with adenylate kinase deficiency. It is the first prenatal diagnosis of AK deficiency in India, where heterogeneity is exceptionally high.

Rare Hereditary Hemolytic Anemias: Diagnostic Approach and Considerations in Management.

Hereditary hemolytic anemias (HHAs) comprise a heterogeneous group of anemias caused by mutations in genes coding the globins, red blood cell (RBC) membrane proteins, and RBC enzymes. Congenital dyserythropoietic anemias (CDAs) are rare disorders of erythropoiesis characterized by binucleated and multinucleated erythroblasts in bone marrow. CDAs typically present with a hemolytic phenotype, as the produced RBCs have structural defects and decreased survival and should be considered in the differential of HHAs. This article discusses the clinical presentation, laboratory findings, and management considerations for rare HHAs arising from unstable hemoglobins, RBC hydration defects, the less common RBC enzymopathies, and CDAs.

Squeezing for Life - Properties of Red Blood Cell Deformability.

Deformability is an essential feature of blood cells (RBCs) that enables them to travel through even the smallest capillaries of the human body. Deformability is a function of (i) structural elements of cytoskeletal proteins, (ii) processes controlling intracellular ion and water handling and (iii) membrane surface-to-volume ratio. All these factors may be altered in various forms of hereditary hemolytic anemia, such as sickle cell disease, thalassemia, hereditary spherocytosis and hereditary xerocytosis. Although mutations are known as the primary causes of these congenital anemias, little is known about the resulting secondary processes that affect RBC deformability (such as secondary changes in RBC hydration, membrane protein phosphorylation, and RBC vesiculation). These secondary processes could, however, play an important role in the premature removal of the aberrant RBCs by the spleen. Altered RBC deformability could contribute to disease pathophysiology in various disorders of the RBC. Here we review the current knowledge on RBC deformability in different forms of hereditary hemolytic anemia and describe secondary mechanisms involved in RBC deformability.

Newborn Screening for Hemoglobinopathies and Red Cell Enzymopathies in Tripura State: A Malaria-Endemic State in Northeast India.

Hemoglobinopathies are a group of inherited single gene disorders. There are reports on hemoglobin (Hb) variants identified in the tribal and non-tribal populations of Tripura State in northeastern India. This study aimed to determine the spectrum of hemoglobinopathies and enzymopathies by newborn screening in Tripura State and assess the extent of neonatal jaundice. A total of 2400 cord blood samples were collected and analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Further confirmation of any abnormal HPLC was done by DNA analysis. The samples were also screened for deficiency of enzymopathies, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency and pyruvate kinase. Of 2400 cord blood samples screened, 225 (9.3%) were Hb E (HBB: c.79G>A) heterozygotes, 80 (3.3%) were Hb E homozygotes and one carried Hb E-ß-thalassemia (ß-thal). Other Hb abnormalities were also detected including 15 Hb S (HBB: c.20A>T) heterozygotes, two Hb D-Punjab (HBB: c.364G>C) heterozygotes and two compound heterozygotes for Hb D-Punjab and Hb E. Of the 80 homozygous Hb E babies, four were non-tribal and 76 babies were tribal, and 225 patients carried Hb E trait, 141 were tribal, while 84 were non-tribal. Of 40 G6PD deficient babies identified, 13 had coinherited Hb E and two babies had pyruvate kinase deficiency. α Genotyping was performed in 162 affected babies, 50 of them carried α gene deletions. Newborn screening programs for Hb E, other hemoglobinopathies and G6PD deficiency must be encouraged in the malaria-endemic northeastern region of India. Drug-induced hemolysis can also be avoided by screening for G6PD deficiency at birth.

Next-generation sequencing unravels homozygous mutation in glucose-6-phosphate isomerase, GPIc.1040G>A (p.Arg347His) causing hemolysis in an Indian infant.

INTRODUCTION: Inherited anemias diagnostic workup requires a step-wise algorithm. Causal genes implicated in congenital hemolytic anemia are numerous, making a gene-by-gene approach by Sanger sequencing time consuming, expensive and labour intensive. Targeted resequencing can be of great use in explaining these cases. METHODOLOGY: Six months female presented with neonatal jaundice and negative family history. Clinical and laboratory evidences were suggestive of hemolytic anemia. G6PD deficiency, thalassemias, hemoglobinopathies, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, hereditary spherocytosis and pyruvate kinase deficiency were excluded. Targeted resequencing on Illumina MiSeq using TruSight One sequencing panel was performed to identify the causative mutations. RESULTS: 35-40% of RBCs were acanthocytes and echinocytes. A missense homozygous mutation was found inglucose-6-phosphate isomerase, GPI [c.1040G>A (p.Arg347His), rs137853583] which results in nonspherocytic hemolytic anemia. CONCLUSION: This study describes GPI p.Arg347His mutation for the first time from India and is the first report of red cell GPI deficiency diagnosed using NGS-based resequencing and highlights the potential of this technique in clinical practice.

Pathophysiology of brain dysfunction in hyperammonemic syndromes: The many faces of glutamine.

Ineffective hepatic clearance of excess ammonia in the form of urea, as occurs in urea cycle enzymopathies (UCDs) and in liver failure, leads to increases in circulating and tissue concentrations of glutamine and a positive correlation between brain glutamine and the severity of neurological symptoms. Studies using 1H/13C Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy reveal increased de novo synthesis of glutamine in the brain in acute liver failure (ALF) but increases of synthesis rates per se do not correlate with either the severity of encephalopathy or brain edema. Skeletal muscle becomes primarily responsible for removal of excess ammonia in liver failure and in UCDs, an adaptation that results from a post-translational induction of the glutamine synthetase (GS) gene. The importance of muscle in ammonia removal in hyperammonemia accounts for the resurgence of interest in maintaining adequate dietary protein and the use of agents aimed at the stimulation of muscle GS. Alternative or additional metabolic and regulatory pathways that impact on brain glutamine homeostasis in hyperammonemia include (i) glutamine deamination by the two isoforms of glutaminase, (ii) glutamine transamination leading to the production of the putative neurotoxin alpha-ketoglutaramate and (iii) alterations of high affinity astrocytic glutamine transporters (SNATs). Findings of reduced expression of the glutamine transporter SNAT-5 (responsible for glutamine clearance from the astrocyte) in ALF raise the possibility of "glutamine trapping" within these cells. Such a trapping mechanism could contribute to cytotoxic brain edema and to the imbalance between excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission in this disorder.

Resultados relevantes en biología molecular, enzimopatías y citogenética en el período 1996-2010 / Relevant results in molecular Biology, enzymopathies and citogenetics during 1996-2010

El Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular del Instituto de Hematología e Inmunología incluye 4 áreas: biología molecular, hemoglobinopatías, enzimas y membrana eritrocitaria y citogenética. Se presentan aspectos relevantes del trabajo desarrollado en los últimos años que comprende investigaciones en las talasemias que permitieron conocer las bases moleculares de estas hemoglobinopatías en nuestra población. En el campo de la biología molecular se desarrolló inicialmente la técnica del southern blot; posteriormente, la de la reacción en cadena de la polimerasa y la transcripción inversa, que han sido muy útiles en el diagnóstico y seguimiento de pacientes con hemopatías malignas. La presencia de alteraciones citogenéticas (monosomías, trisomías, translocaciones, inversiones y deleciones) ha sido ampliamente evaluada en enfermedades hematológicas, con gran utilidad también en el diagnóstico, pronóstico y seguimiento de los pacientes. En cuanto a las enzimopatías, se pudo conocer la alteración molecular de variantes deficientes de glucosa-6-fosfato deshidrogenasa y con el desarrollo de las técnicas para el estudio de las proteínas de la membrana eritrocitaria, se determinó la alteración bioquímica de enfermos con esferocitosis hereditaria (EH)

The Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology of the Institute of Hematology and Immunology includes 4 areas: molecular biology, hemoglobinopathies, enzymes and erythrocytic and cytogenetic membrane. Authors show relevant features of work developed in past years including researches of thalassemia allowing us to know the molecular bases of these hemoglobinopathies in our population. In the field of molecular biology initially we developed the Southern Blot technique; later, that of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the inverse transcription, both very useful in the diagnosis and follow-up of patients presenting with malignant hemopathies. The presence of cytogenetic alterations (monosomies, trisomies, translocations, inversions and deletions) has been fully assessed in hematologic diseases and also with a great usefulness in the diagnosis, prognostic and follow-up of the patients. As regards the enzymopathies, it was possible to know the molecular alteration of variants lacking in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and with the development of the techniques for the study of proteins of erythrocytic membrane it was possible to determine the biochemical alteration of patients presenting with hereditary spherocytosis (HS)

Resultados relevantes en biología molecular, enzimopatías y citogenética en el período 1996-2010 / Relevant results in molecular Biology, enzymopathies and citogenetics during 1996-2010

El Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular del Instituto de Hematología e Inmunología incluye 4 áreas: biología molecular, hemoglobinopatías, enzimas y membrana eritrocitaria y citogenética. Se presentan aspectos relevantes del trabajo desarrollado en los últimos años que comprende investigaciones en las talasemias que permitieron conocer las bases moleculares de estas hemoglobinopatías en nuestra población. En el campo de la biología molecular se desarrolló inicialmente la técnica del southern blot; posteriormente, la de la reacción en cadena de la polimerasa y la transcripción inversa, que han sido muy útiles en el diagnóstico y seguimiento de pacientes con hemopatías malignas. La presencia de alteraciones citogenéticas (monosomías, trisomías, translocaciones, inversiones y deleciones) ha sido ampliamente evaluada en enfermedades hematológicas, con gran utilidad también en el diagnóstico, pronóstico y seguimiento de los pacientes. En cuanto a las enzimopatías, se pudo conocer la alteración molecular de variantes deficientes de glucosa-6-fosfato deshidrogenasa y con el desarrollo de las técnicas para el estudio de las proteínas de la membrana eritrocitaria, se determinó la alteración bioquímica de enfermos con esferocitosis hereditaria (EH)(AU)

The Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology of the Institute of Hematology and Immunology includes 4 areas: molecular biology, hemoglobinopathies, enzymes and erythrocytic and cytogenetic membrane. Authors show relevant features of work developed in past years including researches of thalassemia allowing us to know the molecular bases of these hemoglobinopathies in our population. In the field of molecular biology initially we developed the Southern Blot technique; later, that of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the inverse transcription, both very useful in the diagnosis and follow-up of patients presenting with malignant hemopathies. The presence of cytogenetic alterations (monosomies, trisomies, translocations, inversions and deletions) has been fully assessed in hematologic diseases and also with a great usefulness in the diagnosis, prognostic and follow-up of the patients. As regards the enzymopathies, it was possible to know the molecular alteration of variants lacking in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and with the development of the techniques for the study of proteins of erythrocytic membrane it was possible to determine the biochemical alteration of patients presenting with hereditary spherocytosis (HS)(AU)