Deregulation of microtubule organization and RNA metabolism in Arx models for lissencephaly and developmental epileptic encephalopathy.

X-linked lissencephaly with abnormal genitalia (XLAG) and developmental epileptic encephalopathy-1 (DEE1) are caused by mutations in the Aristaless-related homeobox (ARX) gene, which encodes a transcription factor responsible for brain development. It has been unknown whether the phenotypically diverse XLAG and DEE1 phenotypes may converge on shared pathways. To address this question, a label-free quantitative proteomic approach was applied to the neonatal brain of Arx knockout (ArxKO/Y) and knock-in polyalanine (Arx(GCG)7/Y) mice that are respectively models for XLAG and DEE1. Gene ontology and protein-protein interaction analysis revealed that cytoskeleton, protein synthesis and splicing control are deregulated in an allelic-dependent manner. Decreased α-tubulin content was observed both in Arx mice and Arx/alr-1(KO) Caenorhabditis elegans ,and a disorganized neurite network in murine primary neurons was consistent with an allelic-dependent secondary tubulinopathy. As distinct features of Arx(GCG)7/Y mice, we detected eIF4A2 overexpression and translational suppression in cortex and primary neurons. Allelic-dependent differences were also established in alternative splicing (AS) regulated by PUF60 and SAM68. Abnormal AS repertoires in Neurexin-1, a gene encoding multiple pre-synaptic organizers implicated in synaptic remodelling, were detected in Arx/alr-1(KO) animals and in Arx(GCG)7/Y epileptogenic brain areas and depolarized cortical neurons. Consistent with a conserved role of ARX in modulating AS, we propose that the allelic-dependent secondary synaptopathy results from an aberrant Neurexin-1 repertoire. Overall, our data reveal alterations mirroring the overlapping and variant effects caused by null and polyalanine expanded mutations in ARX. The identification of these effects can aid in the design of pathway-guided therapy for ARX endophenotypes and NDDs with overlapping comorbidities.

Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Field Exposure and Apoptosis: A Scoping Review of In Vitro Studies on Mammalian Cells.

In the last decades, experimental studies have been carried out to investigate the effects of radiofrequency (RF, 100 kHz-300 GHz) electromagnetic fields (EMF) exposure on the apoptotic process. As evidence-based critical evaluation of RF and apoptosis in vitro is lacking, we performed a scoping literature review with the aim of systematically mapping the research performed in this area and identifying gaps in knowledge. Eligible for inclusion were in vitro studies assessing apoptosis in mammalian cells exposed to RF-EMF, which met basic quality criteria (sham control, at least three independent experiments, appropriate dosimetry analysis and temperature monitoring). We conducted a systematic literature review and charted data in order to overview the main characteristics of included studies. From the 4362 papers retrieved with our search strategy, 121 were pertinent but, among them, only 42 met basic quality criteria. We pooled data with respect to exposure (frequency, exposure level and duration) and biological parameters (cell type, endpoint), and highlighted some qualitative trends with respect to the detection of significant effect of RF-EMF on the apoptotic process. We provided a qualitative picture of the evidence accumulated so far, and highlighted that the quality of experimental methodology still needs to be highly improved.

Human Genetic Diseases Linked to the Absence of NEMO: An Obligatory Somatic Mosaic Disorder in Male.

De novo somatic mutations are well documented in diseases such as neoplasia but are rarely reported in rare diseases. Hovewer, severe genetic diseases that are not compatible with embryonic development are caused exclusively by deleterious mutations that could only be found as mosaic and not as inherited mutations. We will review here the paradigmatic case of Incontinentia Pigmenti, a rare X-linked dominant disease caused by deficiency of the NEMO (also called IKKgamma) protein, which plays a pivotal role in tissue homeostasis. The loss-of-function mutations of NEMO are embryonically lethal in males while females survive because of unbalanced X-inactivation due to NEMO wild type (WT) expressing cells survival despite of NEMO mutant expressing cells. The few surviving IP males are obligatory mosaic mutants with the typical clinical presentation of IP in female. Indeed, the IP pathogenesis in the female and most likely also in the male somatic mosaics is based on the cellular effects of an impaired NEMO activity, but in the context of the interaction of genetically different cells in the affected tissue, which might underline the inflammatory status.

Further Delineation of Duplications of ARX Locus Detected in Male Patients with Varying Degrees of Intellectual Disability.

The X-linked gene encoding aristaless-related homeobox (ARX) is a bi-functional transcription factor capable of activating or repressing gene transcription, whose mutations have been found in a wide spectrum of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs); these include cortical malformations, paediatric epilepsy, intellectual disability (ID) and autism. In addition to point mutations, duplications of the ARX locus have been detected in male patients with ID. These rearrangements include telencephalon ultraconserved enhancers, whose structural alterations can interfere with the control of ARX expression in the developing brain. Here, we review the structural features of 15 gain copy-number variants (CNVs) of the ARX locus found in patients presenting wide-ranging phenotypic variations including ID, speech delay, hypotonia and psychiatric abnormalities. We also report on a further novel Xp21.3 duplication detected in a male patient with moderate ID and carrying a fully duplicated copy of the ARX locus and the ultraconserved enhancers. As consequences of this rearrangement, the patient-derived lymphoblastoid cell line shows abnormal activity of the ARX-KDM5C-SYN1 regulatory axis. Moreover, the three-dimensional (3D) structure of the Arx locus, both in mouse embryonic stem cells and cortical neurons, provides new insight for the functional consequences of ARX duplications. Finally, by comparing the clinical features of the 16 CNVs affecting the ARX locus, we conclude that-depending on the involvement of tissue-specific enhancers-the ARX duplications are ID-associated risk CNVs with variable expressivity and penetrance.

Histone demethylase KDM5C is a SAHA-sensitive central hub at the crossroads of transcriptional axes involved in multiple neurodevelopmental disorders.

A disproportional large number of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) is caused by variants in genes encoding transcription factors and chromatin modifiers. However, the functional interactions between the corresponding proteins are only partly known. Here, we show that KDM5C, encoding a H3K4 demethylase, is at the intersection of transcriptional axes under the control of three regulatory proteins ARX, ZNF711 and PHF8. Interestingly, mutations in all four genes (KDM5C, ARX, ZNF711 and PHF8) are associated with X-linked NDDs comprising intellectual disability as a core feature. in vitro analysis of the KDM5C promoter revealed that ARX and ZNF711 function as antagonist transcription factors that activate KDM5C expression and compete for the recruitment of PHF8. Functional analysis of mutations in these genes showed a correlation between phenotype severity and the reduction in KDM5C transcriptional activity. The KDM5C decrease was associated with a lack of repression of downstream target genes Scn2a, Syn1 and Bdnf in the embryonic brain of Arx-null mice. Aiming to correct the faulty expression of KDM5C, we studied the effect of the FDA-approved histone deacetylase inhibitor suberanilohydroxamic acid (SAHA). In Arx-KO murine ES-derived neurons, SAHA was able to rescue KDM5C depletion, recover H3K4me3 signalling and improve neuronal differentiation. Indeed, in ARX/alr-1-deficient Caenorhabditis elegans animals, SAHA was shown to counteract the defective KDM5C/rbr-2-H3K4me3 signalling, recover abnormal behavioural phenotype and ameliorate neuronal maturation. Overall, our studies indicate that KDM5C is a conserved and druggable effector molecule across a number of NDDs for whom the use of SAHA may be considered a potential therapeutic strategy.

A regulatory path associated with X-linked intellectual disability and epilepsy links KDM5C to the polyalanine expansions in ARX.

Intellectual disability (ID) and epilepsy often occur together and have a dramatic impact on the development and quality of life of the affected children. Polyalanine (polyA)-expansion-encoding mutations of aristaless-related homeobox (ARX) cause a spectrum of X-linked ID (XLID) diseases and chronic epilepsy, including infantile spasms. We show that lysine-specific demethylase 5C (KDM5C), a gene known to be mutated in XLID-affected children and involved in chromatin remodeling, is directly regulated by ARX through the binding in a conserved noncoding element. We have studied altered ARX carrying various polyA elongations in individuals with XLID and/or epilepsy. The changes in polyA repeats cause hypomorphic ARX alterations, which exhibit a decreased trans-activity and reduced, but not abolished, binding to the KDM5C regulatory region. The altered functioning of the mutants tested is likely to correlate with the severity of XLID and/or epilepsy. By quantitative RT-PCR, we observed a dramatic Kdm5c mRNA downregulation in murine Arx-knockout embryonic and neural stem cells. Such Kdm5c mRNA diminution led to a severe decrease in the KDM5C content during in vitro neuronal differentiation, which inversely correlated with an increase in H3K4me3 signal. We established that ARX polyA alterations damage the regulation of KDM5C expression, and we propose a potential ARX-dependent path acting via chromatin remodeling.

Insight into IKBKG/NEMO locus: report of new mutations and complex genomic rearrangements leading to incontinentia pigmenti disease.

Incontinentia pigmenti (IP) is an X-linked-dominant Mendelian disorder caused by mutation in the IKBKG/NEMO gene, encoding for NEMO/IKKgamma, a regulatory protein of nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kB) signaling. In more than 80% of cases, IP is due to recurrent or nonrecurrent deletions causing loss-of-function (LoF) of NEMO/IKKgamma. We review how the local architecture of the IKBKG/NEMO locus with segmental duplication and a high frequency of repetitive elements favor de novo aberrant recombination through different mechanisms producing genomic microdeletion. We report here a new microindel (c.436_471delinsT, p.Val146X) arising through a DNA-replication-repair fork-stalling-and-template-switching and microhomology-mediated-end-joining mechanism in a sporadic IP case. The LoF mutations of IKBKG/NEMO leading to IP include small insertions/deletions (indel) causing frameshift and premature stop codons, which account for 10% of cases. We here present 21 point mutations previously unreported, which further extend the spectrum of pathologic variants: 14/21 predict LoF because of premature stop codon (6/14) or frameshift (8/14), whereas 7/21 predict a partial loss of NEMO/IKKgamma activity (two splicing and five missense). We review how the analysis of IP-associated IKBKG/NEMO hypomorphic mutants has contributed to the understanding of the pathophysiological mechanism of IP disease and has provided important information on affected NF-kB signaling. We built a locus-specific database listing all IKBKG/NEMO variants, accessible at http://IKBKG.lovd.nl.

Genomic architecture at the Incontinentia Pigmenti locus favours de novo pathological alleles through different mechanisms.

IKBKG/NEMO gene mutations cause an X-linked, dominant neuroectodermal disorder named Incontinentia Pigmenti (IP). Located at Xq28, IKBKG/NEMO has a unique genomic organization, as it is part of a segmental duplication or low copy repeat (LCR1-LCR2, >99% identical) containing the gene and its pseudogene copy (IKBKGP). In the opposite direction and outside LCR1, IKBKG/NEMO partially overlaps G6PD, whose mutations cause a common X-linked human enzymopathy. The two LCRs in the IKBKG/NEMO locus are able to recombine through non-allelic homologous recombination producing either a pathological recurrent exon 4-10 IKBKG/NEMO deletion (IKBKGdel) or benign small copy number variations. We here report that the local high frequency of micro/macro-homologies, tandem repeats and repeat/repetitive sequences make the IKBKG/NEMO locus susceptible to novel pathological IP alterations. Indeed, we describe the first two independent instances of inter-locus gene conversion, occurring between the two LCRs, that copies the IKBKGP pseudogene variants into the functional IKBKG/NEMO, causing the de novo occurrence of p.Glu390ArgfsX61 and the IKBKGdel mutations, respectively. Subsequently, by investigating a group of 20 molecularly unsolved IP subjects using a high-density quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay, we have identified seven unique de novo deletions varying from 4.8 to ∼115 kb in length. Each deletion removes partially or completely both IKBKG/NEMO and the overlapping G6PD, thereby uncovering the first deletions disrupting the G6PD gene which were found in patients with IP. Interestingly, the 4.8 kb deletion removes the conserved bidirectional promoterB, shared by the two overlapping IKBKG/NEMO and G6PD genes, leaving intact the alternative IKBKG/NEMO unidirectional promoterA. This promoter, although active in the keratinocytes of the basal dermal layer, is down-regulated during late differentiation. Genomic analysis at the breakpoint sites indicated that other mutational forces, such as non-homologous end joining, Alu-Alu-mediated recombination and replication-based events, might enhance the vulnerability of the IP locus to produce de novo pathological IP alleles.

Genetic and molecular analysis of a new unbalanced X;18 rearrangement: localization of the diminished ovarian reserve disease locus in the distal Xq POF1 region.

BACKGROUND: Diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) is a heterogeneous disorder causing infertility, characterized by a decreased number of oocytes, the genetic cause of which is still unknown. METHODS AND RESULTS: We describe a family with a new unbalanced X;18 translocation der(X) associated with either fully attenuated or DOR phenotype in the same family. Cytogenetics and array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) studies have revealed the same partial Xq monosomy and partial 18q trisomy in both the 32-year-old female with DOR and the unaffected mother. The genetic analysis has defined a subtelomeric deletion spanning 13.3 Mb from Xq27.3 to -Xqter, which covers the premature ovarian failure locus 1 (POF1); and a duplication spanning 13.4 Mb, from 18q22.1 to 18qter. From a parental-origin study, we have inferred that the rearranged X chromosome is maternally derived. The Xq27 and 18q22 breakpoint regions fall in a region extremely rich in long interspersed nuclear element, a class of retrotransposons able to trigger mispairing and unusual crossovers. X-inactivation studies reveal a skewing of der(X) both in the mother and the proband. Therefore, the phenotypic expression of der(X) is fully attenuated in the fertile mother and partially attenuated in the DOR daughter. CONCLUSIONS: We report on an unbalanced maternally derived translocation (X;18)(q27;q22) with different intra-familial reproductive performances, ranging from fertility to DOR. Skewed X-inactivation seems to restore the unbalanced genetic make-up, fully silencing the 18q22 trisomy and at least in part the Xq27 monosomy. The chromosomal abnormality observed in this family supports the presence of a DOR susceptibility locus in the distal Xq region and targets the POF1 region for further investigation.

Analysis of a Set of KDM5C Regulatory Genes Mutated in Neurodevelopmental Disorders Identifies Temporal Coexpression Brain Signatures.

Dysregulation of transcriptional pathways is observed in multiple forms of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), such as intellectual disability (ID), epilepsy and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We previously demonstrated that the NDD genes encoding lysine-specific demethylase 5C (KDM5C) and its transcriptional regulators Aristaless related-homeobox (ARX), PHD Finger Protein 8 (PHF8) and Zinc Finger Protein 711 (ZNF711) are functionally connected. Here, we show their relation to each other with respect to the expression levels in human and mouse datasets and in vivo mouse analysis indicating that the coexpression of these syntenic X-chromosomal genes is temporally regulated in brain areas and cellular sub-types. In co-immunoprecipitation assays, we found that the homeotic transcription factor ARX interacts with the histone demethylase PHF8, indicating that this transcriptional axis is highly intersected. Furthermore, the functional impact of pathogenic mutations of ARX, KDM5C, PHF8 and ZNF711 was tested in lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) derived from children with varying levels of syndromic ID establishing the direct correlation between defects in the KDM5C-H3K4me3 pathway and ID severity. These findings reveal novel insights into epigenetic processes underpinning NDD pathogenesis and provide new avenues for assessing developmental timing and critical windows for potential treatments.

Microdeletion/duplication at the Xq28 IP locus causes a de novo IKBKG/NEMO/IKKgamma exon4_10 deletion in families with Incontinentia Pigmenti.

The Incontinentia Pigmenti (IP) locus contains the IKBKG/NEMO/IKKgamma gene and its truncated pseudogene copy, IKBKGP/deltaNEMO. The major genetic defect in IP is a heterozygous exon4_10 IKBKG deletion (IKBKGdel) caused by a recombination between two consecutive MER67B repeats. We analyzed 91 IP females carrying the IKBKGdel, 59 of whom carrying de novo mutations (65%). In eight parents, we found two recurrent nonpathological variants of IP locus, which were also present as rare polymorphism in control population: the IKBKGPdel, corresponding to the exon4_10 deletion in the pseudogene, and the MER67Bdup, that replicates the exon4_10 region downstream of the normal IKBKG gene. Using quantitative DNA analysis and microsatellite mapping, we established that both variants might promote the generation of the pathological IKBKGdel. Indeed, in family IP-516, the exon4_10 deletion was repositioned in the same allele from the pseudogene to the gene, whereas in family IP-688, the MER67Bdup generated the pathological IKBKGdel by recombination between two direct nonadjacent MER67Bs. Moreover, we found an instance of somatic recombination in a MER67Bdup variant, creating the IKBKGdel in an IP male. Our data suggest that the IP locus undergoes recombination producing recurrent variants that might be "at risk" of generating de novo IKBKGdel by NAHR during either meiotic or mitotic division.

The Incontinentia Pigmenti Genetic Biobank: study design and cohort profile to facilitate research into a rare disease worldwide.

Incontinentia pigmenti (IP; OMIM#308300) is a rare genetic disease resulting in neuroectodermal defects, which can lead to disability. At present, there is neither definitive cure available nor are there any sufficiently reliable insights to predict the severity of the disease. We launched the Incontinentia Pigmenti Genetic Biobank (IPGB) project ( http://www.igb.cnr.it/ipgb ) in 2015 to establish a large-scale deposit of biological samples, to provide detailed clinical information about children diagnosed with IP and to facilitate research. We have built a cohort comprising samples of 381 clinically confirmed patients with IP and 633 healthy individuals recruited through IP patients' associations. The collection includes 269 trios, 83 duos, and 95 families with at least two affected members and represents an extensive dataset (200 cooperative medical institutes, 139 in Italy and 61 worldwide) that enables a comprehensive phenotyping. Joining the IPGB guarantees all participants access to the results including the genetic testing of IP and the long-term storage of the samples. The IPGB is the largest IP sample collection and one of the largest rare-disease-oriented collections in the world and will be open to requests for access to data by the national and international scientific community.

Treatment with 3-Aminobenzamide Negates the Radiofrequency-Induced Adaptive Response in Two Cell Models.

In previous investigations, we demonstrated that pre-exposure of different cell cultures to radiofrequency fields can reduce the damage induced by genotoxic agents, an effect resembling the so-called adaptive response. In this study, we pre-exposed human peripheral blood lymphocytes and Chinese hamster lung fibroblast cell line to 1950 MHz, UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunication System) signal, for 20 h, and then treated cultures with Mitomycin-C. After confirming the induction of an adaptive response in terms of the reduction of micronuclei formation, we observed that such a response was negated by treatments with 3-aminobenzamide. Since 3-aminobenzamide is an inhibitor of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase enzyme, which is involved in DNA repair, these results support the possible involvement of DNA repair mechanisms in radiofrequency-induced adaptive response.

Alterations of the IKBKG locus and diseases: an update and a report of 13 novel mutations.

Mutations in the inhibitor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B-cells, kinase gamma (IKBKG), also called nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kB) essential modulator (NEMO), gene are the most common single cause of incontinentia pigmenti (IP) in females and anhydrotic ectodermal dysplasia with immunodeficiency (EDA-ID) in males. The IKBKG gene, located in the Xq28 chromosomal region, encodes for the regulatory subunit of the inhibitor of kappaB (IkB) kinase (IKK) complex required for the activation of the NF-kB pathway. Therefore, the remarkably heterogeneous and often severe clinical presentation reported in IP is due to the pleiotropic role of this signaling transcription pathway. A recurrent exon 4_10 genomic rearrangement in the IKBKG gene accounts for 60 to 80% of IP-causing mutations. Besides the IKBKG rearrangement found in IP females (which is lethal in males), a total of 69 different small mutations (missense, frameshift, nonsense, and splice-site mutations) have been reported, including 13 novel ones in this work. The updated distribution of all the IP- and EDA-ID-causing mutations along the IKBKG gene highlights a secondary hotspot mutation in exon 10, which contains only 11% of the protein. Furthermore, familial inheritance analysis revealed an unexpectedly high incidence of sporadic cases (>65%). The sum of the observations can aid both in determining the molecular basis of IP and EDA-ID allelic diseases, and in genetic counseling in affected families.

Verminoside- and verbascoside-induced genotoxicity on human lymphocytes: involvement of PARP-1 and p53 proteins.

Verminoside and verbascoside are natural compounds present in plants used in traditional medicine. They exhibit several biological activities including anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and anti-tumor properties. The potential applications of these compounds as ingredients in pharmaceutical formulations and cosmetics prompted us to investigate on cytotoxic and genotoxic activity of verminoside and verbascoside on human lymphocytes using genetic toxicity assays recommended in preclinical studies by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). We analyzed chromosome aberrations (CAs) and sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) as well as the mitotic index (MI) and cell viability after the treatments with verminoside and verbascoside. This report is the first to clearly demonstrate a significant increase of structural CAs and SCEs on normal human lymphocytes associated with a reduction of the MI in both verminoside- and verbascoside-treated cells. Moreover, we observed enhanced protein expression levels of PARP-1 and p53 that are key regulatory proteins involved in cell proliferation and DNA repair. Interestingly, mass spectrometric analysis of the compounds in the culture supernatants also showed that verminoside remained unchanged during the culture period while verbascoside was hydrolyzed to its derivative, caffeic acid and the last one seems to be responsible for the observed biological activity.

L-Carnitine protects mammalian cells from chromosome aberrations but not from inhibition of cell proliferation induced by hydrogen peroxide.

L-carnitine is a small essential molecule indispensable in fatty acid metabolism and required in several biological pathways regulating cellular homeostasis. Despite considerable progress in understanding of L-carnitine biosynthesis and metabolism, very few data are reported concerning the protective role of L-carnitine from oxidative stress-induced DNA damage that is known to be a factor in cell transformation and tumourigenesis. In order to detect the capability of L-carnitine to protect mammalian cells from oxidative stress-induced chromosomal effects, we analysed chromosome aberrations in mitotic CHO cells, which represent an appropriate cytogenetic model to study compounds that enhance cell protection against externally induced DNA damage. We chose H2O2 as an inducer of oxidative stress. Our results demonstrate for the first time a marked and reproducible reduction of H2O2-induced chromosome damage involving an L-carnitine-mediated capacity to buffer intracellular formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Furthermore, by studying the mitotic index and cell cycle progression, we also demonstrated that this protective effect is highly specific, since L-carnitine itself was not able to prevent the inhibition of cell growth caused by H2O2.

EDA-ID and IP, two faces of the same coin: how the same IKBKG/NEMO mutation affecting the NF-κB pathway can cause immunodeficiency and/or inflammation.

Anhidrotic Ectodermal Dysplasia with ImmunoDeficiency (EDA-ID, OMIM 300291) and Incontinentia Pigmenti (IP, OMIM 308300) are two rare diseases, caused by mutations of the IKBKG/NEMO gene. The protein NEMO/IKKγ is essential for the NF-κB activation pathway, involved in a variety of physiological and cellular processes, such as immunity, inflammation, cell proliferation, and survival. A wide spectrum of IKBKG/NEMO mutations have been identified so far, and, on the basis of their effect on NF-κB activation, they are considered hypomorphic or amorphic (loss of function) mutations. IKBKG/NEMO hypomorphic mutations, reducing but not abolishing NF-κB activation, have been identified in EDA-ID and IP patients. Instead, the amorphic mutations, abolishing NF-κB activation by complete IKBKG/NEMO gene silencing, cause only IP. Here, we present an overview of IKBKG/NEMO mutations in EDA-ID and IP patients and describe similarities and differences between the clinical/immunophenotypic and genetic aspects, highlighting any T and B lymphocyte defect, and paying particular attention to the cellular and molecular defects that underlie the pathogenesis of both diseases.

Incontinentia pigmenti: report on data from 2000 to 2013.

We report here on the building-up of a database of information related to 386 cases of Incontinentia Pigmenti collected in a thirteen-year activity (2000-2013) at our centre of expertise. The database has been constructed on the basis of a continuous collection of patients (27.6/year), the majority diagnosed as sporadic cases (75.6%). This activity has generated a rich source of information for future research studies by integrating molecular/clinical data with scientific knowledge. We describe the content, architecture and future utility of this collection of data on IP to offer comprehensive anonymous information to the international scientific community.

Incidence of ß-thalassemia carrier on 1495 couples in preconceptional period.

OBJECTIVE: This research, conducted on 1495 couples in preconceptional period, demonstrates how the study of globular resistance of erythrocytes (GRO) is not a first choice test and not useful as other more accurate tests to identify subjects with ß-thalassemia trait. Instead, the complete blood count (CBC) and the evaluation of HbA, HbA2 and HbF by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) are essential. METHODS: Each couple arrived in our laboratory to screen for ß thalassemia. In case of patients with positive (240) or doubtful (112) results, we studied ß-globin gene. RESULTS: Of the 2990 subjects examined, we found 280 subjects with ß-thalassemia trait (9.36%). During biochemical tests, among 112 subjects with doubtful--normal GRO or altered GRO--results, 40 of them resulted positive for the molecular analysis, while 72 of them did not show mutations in ß-globin genes. The 2710 samples with non-carriers of ß-thalassemia trait presented as mean evaluation of HbA2 2.6%, while the 280 subjects with ß-thalassemia trait presented as mean evaluation of HbA2 4.8%. Molecular study showed that the ß thalassemia phenotype is caused by a small number of mutations, whose regional distribution is typical. CONCLUSIONS: In the presence of thalassemic parameters in the CBC, the accurate and precise quantification of hemoglobin HbA2 is essential for the diagnosis of ß-thalassemia trait. DNA mutation analysis provides the most effective way to detect primary gene mutations. The mutations identified in this work can be identified with a simple and inexpensive kit. This means, in economic terms, a significant savings for health spending.