Genetic variation in CD36, HBA, NOS3 and VCAM1 is associated with chronic haemolysis level in sickle cell anaemia: a longitudinal study.

Abstract

Chronic haemolysis stands out as one of the hallmarks of sickle cell anaemia, a clinically heterogeneous autosomal recessive monogenic anaemia. However, the genetic architecture of this sub-phenotype is still poorly understood. Here, we report the results of an association study between haemolysis biomarkers (serum LDH, total bilirubin and reticulocyte count) and the inheritance of 41 genetic variants of ten candidate genes in a series of 99 paediatric SS patients (median current age of 9.9 yr) followed up in two general hospitals in Greater Lisboa area (median follow-up per patient of 5.0 yr). Although in a large number of tests a seemingly significant (i.e. P < 0.05) association was observed, the following ones were confirmed upon correction for multiple comparisons: (i) an increased serum LDH level was associated with haplotype 7 within VCAM1 gene; (ii) a lower total bilirubin was associated with the 3.7-kb deletion at HBA gene, rs2070744_T allele at NOS3 gene, and haplotype 9 within VCAM1 promoter; and (iii) a diminished reticulocyte count was associated with the 3.7-kb deletion at HBA, whereas an increased count was associated with rs1984112_G allele at CD36 gene. On the whole, our findings suggest a complex genetic architecture for the sickle cell anaemia haemolysis process involving multiple pathways, namely control of vascular cell adhesion, NO synthesis and erythrocyte volume and haemoglobinisation.

• Authors: Andreia Coelho, Alexandra Dias, Anabela Morais, Baltazar Nunes, Emanuel Ferreira, Isabel Picanço, Paula Faustino, João Lavinha
• Journal: European journal of haematology (Eur J Haematol) Vol. 92 Issue 3 Pg. 237-43 (Mar 2014) ISSN: 1600-0609 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 24168396 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © 2013 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Chemical References

• CD36 Antigens
• Hemoglobins
• Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1
• Nitric Oxide
• Hemoglobin A
• NOS3 protein, human
• Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III

Topics

• Alleles
• Anemia, Sickle Cell (blood, genetics)
• CD36 Antigens (genetics)
• Child
• Erythrocytes (cytology)
• Female
• Genotype
• Haplotypes
• Hemoglobin A (genetics)
• Hemoglobins (metabolism)
• Hemolysis (genetics)
• Homozygote
• Humans
• Longitudinal Studies
• Male
• Nitric Oxide (metabolism)
• Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III (genetics)
• Phenotype
• Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 (genetics)
• alpha-Thalassemia (metabolism)