Coexistence of hemoglobin Handsworth and alpha 3.7 kb deletion in Caucasian woman in Poland

BackgroundThis report presents a case of an adult Polish women of Caucasian origin who was heterozygous for the nondeletional mutation: Hb Handsworth (HBA2 or HBA1: c.55G > C, p.Gly19Arg) and deletional (-α) α-thalassemia mutation. MethodsThe HbA and HbF levels were measured by microcolumn chromatography and alkaline denaturation procedure, respectively, while electrophoresis was used to detect pathological hemoglobin fraction. The β- and α-globin genotypes were determined by DNA sequencing, gap-polymerase chain reaction, α gene triplication and MLPA. ResultsThe HbA and HbF levels were normal, but hemoglobin electrophoresis on agarose gel alkaline pH showed a strong band migration in a position of hemoglobin S and faint bands in the neighborhood of band A on acid electrophoresis. Molecular analysis of the alpha globin cluster detected a point mutation at codon 19 in (c.55G > C, p.Gl- y19Arg) and deletion -α. ConclusionsOur compound heterozygosity does not produce severe clinical or hematological symptoms but it is important to say that in our part of Europe such cases do appear. Molecular analysis of the alpha globin cluster is required for correct diagnosis in patients with normal HbA levels. Compound heterozygosity was unmasked by molecular diagnosis only

Nieimmunologiczny obrzęk płodu w wyniku talasemii alfa. Opis przypadku zdiagnozowanego i leczonego prenatalnie w Polsce

Talasemia alfa to niedokrwistość wynikająca z mutacji w genach kodujących alfa-globinę lub w elementach regulatorowych klastra alfa-globiny. Zespół hemoglobiny Barta to najcięższa postać tej niedokrwistości, spowodowana defektem genetycznym prowadzącym do całkowitego braku syntezy alfa-globiny, najczęściej wynikającym z delecji obu kopii genów z każdego allelu. U chorych nie są syntetyzowane dwie dominujące hemoglobiny niezbędne dla prawidłowej ontogenezy – HbF w okresie płodowym oraz postnatalnie HbA. Hemoglobiną dominującą jest hemoglobina Barta, składająca się wyłącznie z łańcuchów gamma-globiny. Choroba ujawnia się w okresie prenatalnym w postaci niedokrwistości oraz obrzęku płodu. Przypadek tej postaci talasemii alfa został zdiagnozowany i był skutecznie leczony prenatalnie w jednym z ośrodków w Polsce. W pracy przedstawiono jego opis kliniczny oraz zaprezentowano wyniki badań biochemicznych i molekularnych

Analiza mutacji talasemii alfa u chorych diagnozowanych w Instytucie Hematologii i Transfuzjologii

BackgroundAlpha-thalassemia is genetically transmitted hemolytic anemia resulting from disturbance of the globins chain synthesis. Alpha-thalassemia is caused most frequently by deletions and less commonly by nondeletional defects.AimTo introduce the molecular methods for routine identifications of alpha-thalassemia mutations and to study the characteristics of these mutations in Poland.MethodsBlood sample of 155 patients with normal or reduced HbA2 values was obtained for blood counting. All samples underwent gap-PCR to screen for the seven common α-thal deletions and MLPA analysis. The DNA of 21 patients in which deletions were not detected has been directly sequenced.ResultsWe detected mutations in the alpha-globin gene in 72 of 155 patients studied. 55 out of 72 cases showed most common thalassemia deletions, as the following: a single gene deletion (α3.7 and α4.2) and both genes deletion (FIL, SEA, MED I, and α20.5). Owing to the use of MLPA technique, we found nontypical deletions in another 12 patients and multiplication of the alpha-globin genes in further 4 cases. We also identified a patient with a point mutation HBA2: c.300 + 2T>A by DNA sequencing.ConclusionsMolecular analysis of the alpha-globin cluster is required for a correct diagnosis in patients with normal or reduced level of HbA2.The results of the study show that due to the progressive migration of the population and globalization, thalassemia must be included in the differential diagnosis of anemia in Poland

Alternative splicing is not a key source of chemerin isoforms diversity

Chemerin is a chemoattractant protein with adipokine and antimicrobial properties encoded by the retinoic acid receptor responder 2 (RARRES2) gene. Chemerin bioactivity largely depends on carboxyl-terminal proteolytic processing that generates chemerin isoforms with different chemotactic, regulatory, and antimicrobial potentials. While these mechanisms are relatively well known, the role of alternative splicing in generating isoform diversity remains obscure