ABSTRACT
The occurrence and severity of osteonecrosis in sickle cell anaemia (SCA) vary due to risk factors, including genetic modifiers. Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), particularly BMP6, and the vitamin D receptor (VDR) play key roles in cartilage and bone metabolism, making them potential contributors to orthopaedic outcomes in SCA. Here, we evaluated the association of polymorphisms in BMP6 (rs3812163, rs270393 and rs449853) and VDR (FokI rs2228570 and Cdx2 rs11568820) genes with osteonecrosis risk in a Brazilian SCA cohort. A total of 177 unrelated SCA patients were selected. The AA genotype of BMP6 rs3812163 was independently associated with a lower osteonecrosis risk (p = 0.015; odds ratio (OR): 0.38; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.18-0.83) and with the long-term cumulative incidence of osteonecrosis (p = 0.029; hazard ratio: 0.56, 95% CI: 0.34-0.94). The VDR rs2228570 TT genotype was independently associated with a lower osteonecrosis risk (p = 0.039; OR: 0.14; 95% CI: 0.02-0.90). In summary, our results provide evidence that BMP6 rs3812163 and the VDR rs2228570 might be implicated in osteonecrosis pathophysiology in SCA and might help identify individuals at high risk.
Subject(s)
Anemia, Sickle Cell , Osteonecrosis , Humans , Genetic Predisposition to Disease , Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide , Risk Factors , Osteonecrosis/genetics , Anemia, Sickle Cell/complications , Anemia, Sickle Cell/genetics , Genotype , Case-Control Studies , Bone Morphogenetic Protein 6/genetics , Receptors, Calcitriol/geneticsABSTRACT
The clinical and phenotypic heterogeneity of patients with sickle cell anemia (SCA) is influenced by environmental and genetic factors. Several genetic modifiers, such as the KLOTHO (KL) gene, have been associated with SCA clinical outcomes. The KL gene and its encoded proteins are implicated in important biological pathways, which affect the disease's pathophysiology, such as expression of adhesion molecules VCAM-1 and ICAM-1, oxidative stress, and nitric oxide biology. Here, we evaluated the clinical relevance of two polymorphisms found on the KL gene (rs685417 and rs211239) in 588 unrelated patients with SCA. Genotyping analyses were performed using the TaqMan system. The KL rs211239 was associated with increased number of vaso-occlusive crisis (VOCs) per year (P = 0.001), while KL rs685417 was associated with increased frequency of stroke (P = 0.034), priapism (P = 0.011), number of complications (P = 0.019), and with a lower incidence of priapism (P = 0.036). Additionally, the associations with VOCs, stroke, and priapism remained consistent in multivariate analyses (P < 0.05). Our data highlight the clinical importance of KL in SCA.
Subject(s)
Anemia, Sickle Cell/complications , Anemia, Sickle Cell/genetics , Glucuronidase/genetics , Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Anemia, Sickle Cell/diagnosis , Child , Female , Humans , Klotho Proteins , Male , Middle Aged , Prognosis , Stroke/etiology , Stroke/genetics , Young AdultABSTRACT
Hyperbilirubinemia in patients with sickle cell anemia (SCA) as a result of enhanced erythrocyte destruction, lead to cholelithiasis development in a subset of patients. Evidence suggests that hyperbilirubinemia may be related to genetic variations, such as the UGT1A1 gene promoter polymorphism, which causes Gilbert syndrome (GS). Here, we aimed to determine the frequencies of UGT1A1 promoter alleles, alpha thalassemia, and ßS haplotypes and analyze their association with cholelithiasis and bilirubin levels. The UGT1A1 alleles, -3.7 kb alpha thalassemia deletion and ßS haplotypes were determined using DNA sequencing and PCR-based assays in 913 patients with SCA. The mean of total and unconjugated bilirubin and the frequency of cholelithiasis in GS patients were higher when compared to those without this condition, regardless of age (P < 0.05). Cumulative analysis demonstrated an early age-at-onset for cholelithiasis in GS genotypes (P < 0.05). Low fetal hemoglobin (HbF) levels and normal alpha thalassemia genotype were related to cholelithiasis development (P > 0.05). However, not cholelithiasis but total and unconjugated bilirubin levels were associated with ßS haplotype. These findings confirm in a large cohort that the UGT1A1 polymorphism influences cholelithiasis and hyperbilirubinemia in SCA. HbF and alpha thalassemia also appear as modulators for cholelithiasis risk.
