Identification of new mutations in two phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK) variants expressing different clinical syndromes: PGK Créteil and PGK Amiens.

Phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK) deficiency is generally associated with chronic hemolytic anemia, although it can be accompanied by either mental retardation or muscular disease. Genomic DNAs of two PGK-deficient patients previously described in France were sequenced directly after polymerase chain reaction amplification. The PGK Créteil variant arises from a G-->A nucleotide interchange at position 1022 in cDNA (exon 9), resulting in amino acid substitution 314 Asp-->Asn in the C-terminal domain, which contains the nucleotide binding site. It is associated with rhabdomyolysis crises but not with hemolysis or mental retardation. In the other case, which is associated with chronic hemolytic anemia and mental retardation (PGK Amiens), an A-->T nucleotide interchange was found at position 571 in cDNA (exon 5); this leads to amino acid substitution 163 Asp-->Val in the N-terminal domain, which contains the catalytic site for phosphoglycerate binding. These results corroborate the kinetic data observed. In the two cases, the mutations are distinct from others previously reported and no significant relationship could be observed between the location of the amino acid substitution and its clinical consequences.

Studies on human platelets stored at 20-22 degrees C without agitation.

Human blood platelets in ACD plasma were stored in sterile plastic bags for 24-96 h at the ambient temperature without agitation. No spontaneous aggregation nor bacterial contamination were noted. A progressive loss of the following parameters was seen: platelet count; ADP-, thrombin-, collagen-, and epinephrine-induced platelet aggregation; platelet factor 3 activity; reversible response to the osmotic shock; volumetric constants; amount of UV-absorbant material; 14C-5-hydroxytryptamine and 3H-adenosine uptake and release; platelet population pattern and glycogen synthesis activity. The platelet aggregation and release, the osmotic shock test, and the platelet population pattern appear to better illustrate the early changes during platelet storage and to account for the 25-42% of recirculation of 24 h stored platelets administered into thrombocytopenic patients. As stated by Murphy and Gaardner, platelets stored at 20-22 degrees C with or without agitation, although having failed to retain total functional and biochemical capacities, paradoxically seem to recuperate in vivo as shown by survival data and hemostatic effects.