The frequency of β-globin gene haplotypes, α-thalassemia and genetic polymorphisms of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase, factor V Leiden and prothrombin genes in children with sickle cell disease in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: [letter to editor] / Frequência dos haplótipos da globina beta, da talassemia alfa e dos polimorfismos genéticos dos genes da metilenotetrahidrofolato redutase, do fator V Leiden e da protrombina em crianças com doença falciforme no Rio de Janeiro, Brasil: [carta ao editor]

A freqüência dos haplótipos beta S e beta C do gene da globina e a prevalência de talassemia alfa e de mutações nos genes da metilenotetrahidrofolato redutase (MTHFR-C677T), do fator V de Leiden e da protrombina (G20210A) foi estudada em crianças com doença falciforme do Rio de Janeiro. O haplótipo Bantu foi o mais freqüente (65,9 por cento), 21,2 por cento das crianças (18 por cento heterozigotas e 3 por cento homozigotas) apresentam talassemia com mutação alfa 3.7kb, ao contrário da mutação alfa 4.2kb que não foi encontrada. Os alelos 677CT e 677TT da MTHFR foram observados em 20,2 por cento e 4,8 por cento, respectivamente. Os haplótipos Camarões, Árabe-Indiano e Senegal não foram detectados na amostra estudada, bem como mutações no gene do fator V de Leiden e da protrombina. Somente o haplótipo beta C CI foi observado. Esse é o primeiro estudo realizado em uma amostra proveniente do Programa de Triagem Neonatal para Hemoglobinopatias do estado do Rio de Janeiro. Apesar do Rio de Janeiro ser a segunda maior cidade brasileira e seus habitantes expressarem o elevado grau de miscigenação ocorrida no país, nossos resultados ainda coincidem com os registros históricos dos fluxos migratórios do gene beta S para o Brasil, bem como refletem a forte influência de indivíduos de origem africana na população do Rio de Janeiro.

Effect of the 894G>T polymorphism of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase on vascular reactivity following maximal dynamic exercise.

BACKGROUND: Considering that the role of nitric oxide as a vasodilator is increased after an acute bout of exercise and that the 894G>T polymorphism of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase seems to reduce the nitric oxide release in response to shear stress, the present study investigated the 894G>T polymorphism in relation to vascular reactivity following maximal dynamic exercise. METHOD: We studied 110 healthy volunteers (wild-type group 45.5% and polymorphic group 54.5%). The protocol included vascular reactivity assessment at baseline and during reactive hyperemia, before, 10, 60 and 120 min after a maximal cardiopulmonary exercise test. Genomic DNA was extracted from blood samples to determine the 894G>T polymorphism. RESULTS: There were no differences between the wild-type and polymorphic groups concerning anthropometric, metabolic and hemodynamic characteristics. Blood flow, before maximal exercise, was similar between the wild-type and the polymorphic groups. The polymorphic group presented lower vascular reactivity regardless of time (P = 0.019 for group main effect), and posthoc analysis revealed that polymorphic patients had lower values than wild-type only at the 120 min measurement (P = 0.002). Concerning within-group analysis, vascular reactivity increased at 10 min after exercise (P = 0.029) returning to baseline at 120 min (P = 0.005) in the polymorphic group. CONCLUSION: Patients with the 894G>T polymorphism had lower vascular reactivity after a single bout of exercise.

A novel point mutation in a class IV glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase variant (G6PD São Paulo) and polymorphic G6PD variants in São Paulo State, Brazil.

In this study, we used red cell glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) activity to screen for G6PD-deficient individuals in 373 unrelated asymptomatic adult men who were working with insecticides (organophosphorus and carbamate) in dengue prevention programs in 27 cities in São Paulo State, Brazil. Twenty-one unrelated male children suspected of having erythroenzymopathy who were attended at hospitals in São Paulo city were also studied. Fifteen of the 373 adults and 12 of the 21 children were G6PD deficient. G6PD gene mutations were investigated in these G6PD-deficient individuals by using PCR-RFLP, PCR-SSCP analysis and DNA sequencing. Twelve G6PD A-202A/376G and two G6PD Seattle844C, as well as a new variant identified as G6PD São Paulo, were detected among adults, and 11 G6PD A-202A/376G and one G6PD Seattle844C were found among children. The novel mutation c.660C > G caused the replacement of isoleucine by methionine (I220M) in a region near the dimer interface of the molecule. The conservative nature of this mutation (substitution of a nonpolar aliphatic amino acid for another one) could explain why there was no corresponding change in the loss of G6PD activity (64.5% of normal activity in both cases).

A novel point mutation in a class IV glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase variant (G6PD São Paulo) and polymorphic G6PD variants in São Paulo State, Brazil

In this study, we used red cell glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) activity to screen for G6PD-deficient individuals in 373 unrelated asymptomatic adult men who were working with insecticides (organophosphorus and carbamate) in dengue prevention programs in 27 cities in São Paulo State, Brazil. Twenty-one unrelated male children suspected of having erythroenzymopathy who were attended at hospitals in São Paulo city were also studied. Fifteen of the 373 adults and 12 of the 21 children were G6PD deficient. G6PD gene mutations were investigated in these G6PD-deficient individuals by using PCR-RFLP, PCR-SSCP analysis and DNA sequencing. Twelve G6PD A-202A/376G and two G6PD Seattle844C, as well as a new variant identified as G6PD São Paulo, were detected among adults, and 11 G6PD A-202A/376G and one G6PD Seattle844C were found among children. The novel mutation c.660C > G caused the replacement of isoleucine by methionine (I220M) in a region near the dimer interface of the molecule. The conservative nature of this mutation (substitution of a nonpolar aliphatic amino acid for another one) could explain why there was no corresponding change in the loss of G6PD activity (64.5 percent of normal activity in both cases).