First Detection of the -27 (A > G) (HBB: c.-77A > G) Mutation of the ß-Globin Gene in a Chinese Family.

We present the first description of a novel ß-thalassemia (ß-thal) mutation in a Chinese family. This mutation is located at -27 of the TATA box in the promoter of the ß-globin gene (HBB: c.-77A > G) and is likely associated with a phenotype of ß(+)-thalassemia (ß(+)-thal).

The Codon 35 (A > G) (HBB: c.107A > G) at the α-ß Chain Interface of the ß-Globin Gene: A Silent Mutation?

Tyr35ß is located at the convergence of the α1ß1, α1ß2 and α1α2 interfaces of Hb A. We here report a Chinese family in whom the codon 35 (A > G) (HBB: c.107A > G) mutation of the ß-globin gene was not associated with the thalassemic phenotype previously described.

Thalassemia Intermedia Caused by 16p13.3 Sectional Duplication in a ß-Thalassemia Heterozygous Child.

Thalassemia intermedia is an inherited hemoglobin disorder characterized by a significant genetic and clinical heterogeneity. A wide spectrum of different genotypes-homozygous, heterozygous, and compound heterozygous-have been found to be responsible for it. The authors describe a Chinese child of ß-thalassemia heterozygote with the mutation IVS2-654 (C→T) (HBB:c.316-197C→T) presenting with severe thalassemia intermedia. Multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) and array comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) analyses of the α gene cluster revealed an approximate 146-kb duplication at 16p13.3 including the complete α gene cluster. The duplicated allele and the normal allele in trans result in a total of 6 active α genes. The severe clinical phenotype seemed to be related to the considerable excess of the α-globin and the ß-globin deficit caused by the presence of the ß-thalassemia. The α gene duplication should be considered in patients heterozygous for ß-thalassemia who show a more severe phenotype than ß-thalassemia trait.

Evidence of Selection for the α-Globin Gene Deletions and Triplications in a Southern Chinese Population.

α(+)-Thalassemia (α(+)-thal) is common in Southern China. The high frequency could be due to over dominant selection through malaria. Two molecular mechanisms that produce α(+)-thal have been defined; one results in the -α(3.7) (rightward) deletion and reciprocal ααα(anti 3.7) triplication, and the other one results in the -α(4.2) (leftward) deletion and reciprocal ααα(anti 4.2) triplication. Considering that each de novo event produced a chromosome with an α gene deletion and a chromosome with an α triplication, if there is no favorable allele, one would expected to find the same allelic frequencies. We found a favorable selection for the -α(3.7) deletion in the Chinese population, and we also found that the α triplication is not as rare as was first thought, especially for the ααα(anti 3.7) triplication.

Frequencies of HKαα and anti-HKαα Alleles in Chinese Carriers of Silent Deletional α-Thalassemia.

The HKαα (HongKongαα) allele is an unusual rearrangement of the α-globin gene cluster containing both the -α(3.7) (rightward) and ααα(anti 4.2) crossover deletion/duplication. The anti-HKαα (anti-HongKongαα) allele is the reciprocal product containing both the -α(4.2) (leftward) and ααα(anti 3.7) unequal crossover deletion/duplication. In clinical practice of thalassemia screening, gap-polymerase chain reaction (gap-PCR) approaches are used to detect the common -α(3.7) and -α(4.2) deletions of α-thalassemia (α-thal). Because the HKαα and anti-HKαα alleles also contain the single α-globin gene deletion, individuals with these alleles would be misdiagnosed as -α(3.7) or -α(4.2) carriers. This would likely produce misleading or incorrect information in genetic counseling. In this study, we investigated the HKαα and anti-HKαα alleles in Chinese carriers of silent deletional α-thal, and reported their frequencies to be 2.27 and 0.35% in -α(3.7) and -α(4.2) carriers, respectively. Given the rarity of the HKαα and anti-HKαα alleles, a routine screening for these two rearrangements are unlikely to be necessary on most occasions.

Compound Heterozygosity for HKαα and an in Cis Deletion of Double α Genes Presents as α-Thalassemia Trait.

The HKαα (Hong Kongαα) allele is an unusual rearrangement of the α-globin gene cluster containing both the -α(3.7) (rightward) and ααα(anti 4.2) crossover deletion/insertion. During our thalassemia screening program, we identified 10 adult individuals and two newborns who were confirmed to be compound heterozygotes for HKαα and the Southeast Asian deletion (- -(SEA)). Their hematological data showed a typical α-thalassemia (α-thal) trait. The routine gap-polymerase chain reaction (gap-PCR) based assay revealed the presence of -α(3.7), - -(SEA) and normal α2 alleles in the α-globin gene clusters. These confusing findings indicated the existence of more complex derivative alleles produced possibly by repeated unequal crossover of recombinant alleles between α-globin gene clusters. A two-round nested PCR strategy confirmed the diagnosis of HKαα. Considering the large-scale population screening in the thalassemia-prevalent regions in China, the current diagnostic strategy might need to be modified accordingly. The detection of HKαα would improve accuracy in genetic counseling, especially in couples where one partner was a - -(SEA) carrier and the other carries a -α(3.7) deletion identified by routine gap-PCR methods.

Identification of Stabilization of Malvid Anthocyanins and Antioxidant Stress Activation via the AMPK/SIRT1 Signaling Pathway.

Vitis amurensis Rupr. "Beibinghong" is abundant in anthocyanins, including malvidin (Mv), malvidin-3-glucoside (Mv3G), and malvidin-3,5-diglucoside (Mv35 G). Anthocyanins offer nutritional and pharmacological effects, but their stability is poor. Interaction of malvid anthocyanins with caffeic acid through ultrahigh pressure technology produces stable anthocyanin derivatives. This study aims to identify the structure of stable mallow-like anthocyanins and to determine the effect of these stable anthocyanins on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) with H2O2-induced oxidative damage and the signaling pathway involved. The products of malvid anthocyanins and caffeic acid bonding were identified and analyzed using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-Orbitrap mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-Orbitrap MS/MS). The bonding products were malvidin-3-O-guaiacol (Mv3C), malvidin-3-O-(6″-O-caffeoyl)-glucoside (Mv3CG), and malvidin-3-O-(6″-O-caffeoyl)-5-diglucoside (Mv3C5G). An oxidative stress injury model in HUVECs was established using H2O2 and treated with Mv, Mv3G, Mv35 G, Mv3C, Mv3CG, and Mv3C5G at different concentrations (10, 50, and 100 µmol/L). Results showed that the above compound concentrations can significantly increase cell proliferation rate and reduce intracellular reactive oxygen species at 100 µmol/L. The effects of the most active products Mv and Mv3C on the AMP-activated protein (AMPK)/silencing information regulator-1 (SIRT1) pathway were analyzed. Results showed that Mv and Mv3C significantly increased SOD activity in the cells and significantly upregulated the expression of SIRT1 mRNA, SIRT1, and p-AMPK protein. However, they did not significantly change the expression of AMPK protein. After the silent intervention of siRNA in SIRT1 gene expression, the upregulation of SIRT1 and p-AMPK protein by Mv and Mv3C was significantly inhibited. These results indicate that stabilization malvid anthocyanins exerts an antioxidant activity via the AMPK/SIRT1 signaling pathway.