title: Changes in the G gamma- and A gamma-globin mRNA components of fetal hemoglobin during human development.
abstract: To determine the postnatal developmental changes in (G)gamma- and (A)gamma-globin mRNAs of HbF, blood samples were obtained from 28 pre-term infants born at < or = 33 weeks of gestation (27.9 +/- 2.5), 9 term-born infants and 26 adults. Adult samples were used to determine the relationship between the levels (G)gamma- and (A)gamma-mRNAs of HbF and the-158 (C-->T) variation in the promoter region of the (G)gamma-globin gene. The results showed that (G)gamma-globin mRNA to total gamma-globin mRNAs remained around 66% (66.2 +/- 4) until the 44 week of postconceptual age when a change in the (G)gamma- and (A)gamma-globin mRNA proportions occurred. The immature red cells of adults had a range of (G)gamma-globin mRNA to total gamma-globin mRNAs varying from 20 to 74% (53.1 +/- 16.9). The high levels of (G)gamma-globin mRNA to total gamma-globin mRNAs are associated with the presence of a -158 (C-->T) polymorphism. The gene frequency of polymorphism was 0.32.
authors.affiliation: Service of Neonatalogy, Department of Pediatrics, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. bardh@ere.umontreal.ca
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bard
authors.forename: K G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Peri
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gagnon
mesh_terms: D005319:Fetal Hemoglobin / Q000235:genetics*; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005865:Gestational Age; D005914:Globins / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000097:blood*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D005914:Globins; D005319:Fetal Hemoglobin