Hemoglobin Hasharon [alpha 247 (CD5)Asp leads to His beta 2] linked to alpha-Thalassemia in northern Italian carriers. Hematological and biosynthetic studies.

This report is concerned with the evaluation of hematological parameters and of both relative (%) and absolute (mean pg/cell) quantities of the abnormal Hemoglobin (Hb) Hasharon in 53 heterozygous carriers and 7 double heterozygotes for Hb Hasharon and beta-thalassemia from 43 apparently unrelated families living in the province of Rovigo (northern Italy). Biosynthetic studies are also reported. The data strongly suggest the presence of an alpha-thalassemia-2 determinant closely linked to the alpha Hasharon-chain locus. Selective advantage of heterozygotes carrying such alpha-haplotype would explain the relatively high frequency of Hb Hasharon (0.23%) in northeastern Italy, a past-endemic malaria region. The interaction between Hb Hasharon and beta-thalassemia results in preferential decrease of the abnormal Hb level.

Hemoglobin G San José [beta 2 7 (A4) Glu to Gly alpha 2], beta thalassemia, and alpha thalassemia in a Sicilian family.

A 3-year-old child of Sicilian origin was found to have a severe form of Cooley's anemia. Investigations were extended to other members of her family. In three, a rare beta-chain structural Hb variant, Hb G San José [beta 7 (A4) Glu to Gly], was observed: in the father of the porposita heterozygosity for the abnormal Hb was found to be coexistent with beta o thalassemia; two sisters had lowered MCV and MCH values and levels of the abnormal Hb significantly lower than in other heterozygotes for Hb G San José. The alpha-chain/total beta-chain synthesis ratios suggest an alpha-thalassemic-like effect. Their mother had lowered MCV and MCH values, an Hb A2 level in the upper limit of the normal range, and a balanced alpha-chain/beta-chain synthesis ratio. Therefore, the possibility of coexistence of an alpha thalassemia trait with a beta thalassemia trait in the mother of the proposita and with Hb G San José heterozygosity in the two sisters who had lowered levels of abnormal Hb is discussed.

Haemoglobin Lepore trait: haematological and structural studies on the Italian population.

Haematological data on 59 heterozygotes for haemoglobin (Hb) Lepore and 10 double heterozygotes for Hb Lepore and beta thalassaemia from 36 Italian families are reported. The red cell indices are defined and compared with those of groups of non-thalassaemic and beta thalassaemic subjects of comparable number, age and sex distribution. The relative level of each haemoglobin fraction and the absolute production of single polypeptide chains are calculated in order to compare the expression of the non-alpha chain genes in Hb Lepore trait and beta thalassaemia. Structural studies demonstrate that the haemoglobin Lepore is of the Boston type (delta 87 beta 116) in all subjects, confirming that this type of fusion variant is probably the only one which occurs in Mediterranean populations. The distribution and incidence of the Lepore haemoglobinopathy are discussed.

A new abnormal human hemoglobin: Hb Prato (alpha 2 31 (B12) Arg leads to Ser beta 2).

An abnormal human hemoglobin was found in a hemolysate from a 5-year-old healthy child living in Prato (Tuscany, Italy). Strutctural studies demonstrated a previously unreported amino acid substitution, alpha 31 (B12) Arg leads to Ser (this is an alpha 1 beta 1 contact). The new variant has been named Hb Prato. It was unstable in isopropanol and heat-denaturation tests, but has normal functional properties, with respect to whole blood studies. Family studies indicated that the variant had been inherited from the mother, a 39-year-old woman of Sicilian extraction. Hb Prato occurs at 20 and 28% in hemolysates from the boy and woman, respectively.

Studies on a family with Hb J Calabria (alpha 2 beta 2 64 (E8) Gly replaced by Asp).

Hb J Calabria is a fast moving hemoglobin variant which was found in an Italian family by Vecchio et al (1), and in a French family by Blouquit et al. who studied its functional properties (2). The original family described by Vecchio et al. in which both Hb J Calabria and beta-thalassemia were present has been reexamined and is the subject of the present study. Hematological and clinical features of the carriers are described. The heterozygous carriers of Hb J Calabria showed only mild variable subclinical anemia and levels of the abnormal hemoglobin ranging from about 33 to 42%. The Hb J Calabria/beta-thalassemia double heterozygote showed a moderate chronic hemolytic anemia with alterations of the RBC indices and morphology in addition to splenomegaly. The relationship between structural abnormality, functional properties and clinical expression of Hb J Calabria is discussed.

Hemoglobin Legnano (alpha2 141 (HC3) Arg replaced by Leu beta2): a new abnormal human hemoglobin with high oxygen affinity.

An abnormal, fast moving hemoglobin was noted in a 34-yr-old male patient living in Legnano (northern Italy) affected with renal failure and iron deficiency anemia, not related to the presence of the Hb variant. Structural studies have demonstrated a previously undescribed amino acid substitution, alpha 141 Arg replaced by Leu. This new variant has been named Hb Legnano, and is characterized by an increased oxygen affinity and a low cooperativity, at least as far as preliminary functional studies carried out on whole blood have indicated. Family studies are reported: three other heterozygous carriers were observed among the relatives of the propositus, all showing a mild polycythemia which, however, does not seem to produce appreciable clinical consequences.