Functional Polymorphisms in the p53 Pathway Genes on the Genetic Susceptibility to Zika Virus Teratogenesis.

Congenital Zika Syndrome (CZS) occurs in up to 42% of individuals exposed to ZIKV prenatally. Deregulation in gene expression and protein levels of components of the p53 signaling pathway, such as p53 and MDM2, due to ZIKV infection has been reported. Here, we evaluate functional polymorphisms in genes of the p53 signaling pathway as risk factors to CZS. Forty children born with CZS and forty-eight children exposed to ZIKV, but born without congenital anomalies were included in this study. Gestational and sociodemographic information as well as the genotypic and allelic frequencies of functional polymorphisms in TP53, MDM2, MIR605 and LIF genes were compared between the two groups. We found children with CZS exposed predominantly in the first trimester and controls in the third trimester (p<0.001). Moreover, children with CZS were predominantly from families with a lower socioeconomic level (p=0.008). We did not find a statistically significant association between the investigated polymorphisms and development of CZS; however, by comparing individuals with CZS and lissencephaly or without lissencephaly, we found a significative difference in the allelic frequencies of the TP53 rs1042522, which is associated with a more potent p53-induced apoptosis (p=0.007). Our findings suggest that the TP53 rs1042522 polymorphism should be better investigate as a genetic risk factor for the development of lissencephaly in children with CZS.

Genetic changes in severe haemophilia A: new contribution to the aetiology of a complex disease.

Haemophilia A is an X-linked bleeding disorder caused by reduced or absent clotting factor VIII (FVIII) activity, determined by heterogeneous mutations in the F8 gene. Identification of these pathogenic mutations is important for genetic counseling and the assessment of clinical manifestations. Although more than 700 mutations of the F8 gene have been reported as responsible for severe haemophilia (FVIII: C<1%), the corresponding data is currently insufficient for southern Brazilian populations, and world reviews concerning these changes are scarce. Thirty-six unrelated severe haemophilia A patients who showed negative results for introns 22 and 1 inversions were studied for gross exon deletions and mutations there and in adjacent regions. Missense mutations were examined using molecular structural methods. The presence of FVIII inhibitors was also investigated. The results were compared with the information available from respectively 2878 and 1952 patients from all over the world. Twenty-nine different genetic changes were found, 16 of them novel. Seventeen of the carriers developed FVIII inhibitors, and molecular analysis suggested that Asp542Gly and Ser109Pro may interfere with calcium binding, whereas Leu2297Arg clearly affects the molecule's electrostatic surface. The main aetiological factor in the severe form of haemophilia seems to be missense mutations. Of all genetic changes occurring in these patients, large deletions are the most important in inhibitors formation.